§ 41. Mr. C. EDWARDSasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the number of disused lime kilns in the country, and the importance, in the interests of agriculture, of re-opening them; and will he state the policy of the Government in regard to this matter?
Mr. GUINNESSI am aware that, owing principally to the increased cost of labour, coal, and carriage, many lime kilns, which used to be worked economically, are now closed. Several schemes for stimulating the supply of lime for agricultural purposes have been considered, but would require such financial aid, and involve such interference with the ordinary course of trade, that I am 1520 not prepared to put them forward. I would remind the hon. Member that loans may be made for the purchase of lime to farmers' societies formed under the Agricultural Credits Act, 1923, and I am sending him a copy of the leaflet on the subject.