§ 58. Colonel Sir A. HOLBROOKasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will consider the introduction of legislation whereby preferential assessments may be made upon arable lands under cultivation, with the object of encouraging increased production of cereals and incidentally of giving additional opportunity for employment of agricultural labourers?
The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Sir Arthur Boscawen)I shall be glad to consider any detailed proposals which my hon. Friend may desire to submit with the object of carrying out the proposal he has in mind, but, as at present advised, I am doubtful if the suggestion would secure the result he has in view.
| — | Producer's Price per Imperial Gallon. | Retail Price per Quart. | ||||
| s. | d. | d. | ||||
| 1921—March | … | … | 2 | 4 | 11 | |
| April | … | … | 1 | 11 | 10 | |
| May | … | … | 1 | 2½ | 9¾ | |
| June | … | … | 1 | 2½ | 8 | |
| July | … | … | 1 | 5¾ | 8 | |
| August | … | … | 1 | 10 | 9 | |
| September | … | … | 2 | 0 | 9 | |
| October | … | … | 1 | 9 | 9 | |
| November | … | … | 1 | 11 | 9 | |
| December | … | … | 2 | 1 | 9 | |
| 1922—January | … | … | 2 | 1 | 9 | |
| February | … | … | 1 | 11 | 9 | |
| Monthly Average | … | … | 1 | 9¾ | Monthly Average | 9⅛ |
| = 3 | 0½ | |||||
| per gallon. |
§ The retail price during the past 12 months has, therefore, been about 68 per cent. higher than the average price received by the producer. In 1913, the producer's price was about 9d. per gallon, and the retail price 4d. per quart, a difference of 78 per cent. The percentage of difference is, therefore, less now than in 1913, but, whereas the actual difference between producers' and re-