§ 40. Mr. A. M. SAMUELasked the Minister of Agriculture what are the esti- 1754 mated world's consumption and world's production of wheat for the year 1924?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Buxton)The information at present available does not permit of any reliable estimate yet being made of the world's production of wheat this year. The estimated production in 1923, including crops in the Southern Hemisphere harvested at the end of 1923 or beginning of 1924, was 1,855 million cwts., a figure much above the average, and not likely to be reached this year. It is not possible to estimate the consumption in 1924.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs there any truth in the report that one of the American wheat dealers made £3,000,000 in one day through the corner in wheat?
§ Mr. BLACKIs there, in the opinion of the Government, any justification for the rise in the price of bread?
§ Mr. SAMUELDoes the right hon. Gentleman not think that it would be advisable for his Ministry to let the public know as much as possible as to the actual facts about the consumption, so that there will be a stop put in some measure to the speculation that is going on?
§ Mr. BUXTONIf my hon. Friend will look at the market reports of the Ministry he will see that all possible information is given there.
§ Mr. BUCHANANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that ordinary working people, who are the chief sufferers by this speculation, do not read the market reports, and in view of the fact that this speculation is causing a grave amount of unrest amongst the poorest people of the land, will he consider issuing some authorised statement on the question?
§ Mr. B. TURNERWill the right hon. Gentleman take steps to intern as many of the speculators as possible—those who live in this Kingdom?
§ Mr. BUXTONIf it is possible to issue a useful memorandum, I would like to do so.
§ 41. Mr. A. M. SAMUELasked the Minister of Agriculture what is the percentage of increase of wheat consumption by China and Japan in 1923 as compared with 1913?
§ Mr. BUXTONFrom information published by the International Institute of Agriculture it appears that the total consumpion of wheat in Japan in 1923 was 83 per cent. greater than in 1913. Information regarding China is not available.
§ Mr. SAMUELIn view of the fact that these two great nations have such great populations, would it not be advisable for the Ministry to keep the public well acquainted with what is the consumption of wheat in China and Japan?
§ Mr. VIVIANCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us something a little more intelligible? He refers to 83 per cent. 83 per cent.—of what? It might be a very small amount.
§ Mr. BUXTONThe wheat consumption in Japan in 1913 was 17,300,000 cwts. In 1922 it was 31,500,000 cwts.
§ Mr. SAMUELIs that Australian wheat or American wheat?
§ Mr. BUXTONPerhaps the hon. Member will put down a further question. I have answered what he put down to-day. It is partly Australian wheat. A considerably increased quantity has lately gone from Australia to Japan, and less to China.
§ Earl WINTERTONWhen the right hon. Gentleman says that the figures are not available, does he mean that he has applied to His Majesty's Minister and Consuls in China for the information and could not get it?
§ Mr. BUXTONI was not asked to prepare a statement of the sources from which wheat reached Japan, but only as to the increased consumption, and that information I have given.
§ Earl WINTERTONThe right lion. Gentleman says that the figures are not available. Has he consulted His Majesty's Minister and Consuls in that country as to whether that figure can be obtained?
§ Mr. BUXTONThe importation is of very recent origin from Australia to China, and a complete year has not terminated. In nine months 2,000,000 cwts. have been exported from Australia to China.