§ 59. Mr. HARDIEasked the Secretary for Scotland if he will give for the year 1924 the average price of herrings per cran at Oban Pier; the railway cost of carrying to Glasgow; and the average retail price of the herrings in Glasgow?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe average price of herrings at Oban Pier in 1924 was 55s. 9d. per cran, the range of prices being from 15s. to 128s. per cran. The railway charges from Oban to Glasgow were as follows:
Under 5 cwts., 2s. 10W. per cwt.
5 cwts. and under 3 tons, 2s. per cwt.
3 tons or over, 36s. 3d. per ton.
I regret that it is not possible to furnish particulars of the retail prices at which herrings from Oban as distinct from herrings from other sources were sold in Glasgow.
§ Mr. HARDIEHas the right hon. Gentleman gone into these figures to discover that the herrings are landed in Glasgow market under a 1d. per lb., and will he try to get reasons why the public are fleeced to the extent of 6d. and 8d. a lb. when they go to buy them?