§ 82. Viscount WOLMERasked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Hop Controller has ever purchased any foreign grown hops; and, if so, whether he will state the amounts in each year of the Control purchased?
§ Mr. BUXTONIn the year ended 30th June, 1920, at the request of the Government, the Hop Control purchased some 9,493 cwts. of Czechoslovakian hops, and in the same year, and at the request of the New Zealand Government, the Control purchased 703 cwts. of New Zealand hops.
§ Mr. W. THORNECan the right hon. Gentleman state for what these hops are used?
§ 83. Viscount WOLMERasked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Hop Controller has ever received offers from abroad or from dealers on foreign account to purchase English-grown hops: and, if so, whether he will state the highest prices quoted for parcels of the respective crops?
§ Mr. BUXTONI am informed that the Hop Controller has never received offers from foreign dealers to purchase English-grown hops. I may add, however, that a suggestion was made to the Hop Controller by certain merchants at the time of hop picking last year that if the restriction on production could be withdrawn they were prepared to buy 25,000 cwts. at a price of £6 a cwt. On many grounds it was not possible for the Hop Controller to accept this offer.