HC Deb 11 February 1929 vol 225 cc22-4
32. Mr. A. V. ALEXANDER

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the depression in prices for home-produced grain at inland mills by reason of the preference afforded to port millers as a result of the operation of the railway freight rebate scheme; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

Mr. GUINNESS

I have only this morning had the advantage of receiving a deputation from the National Association of Corn and Agricultural Merchants, who, in the course of a detailed discussion confirmed the suggestion made in the first part of the hon. Member's question. I am not, however, satisfied, that any useful purpose would be served or any advantage ultimately gained by the farmer in any attempt to meet the millers' request by an amendment of the list of agricultural traffics selected for the freight relief.

Mr. ALEXANDER

Does not this preference to port millers react against farmers locally in their trade with the inland mills?

Mr. GUINNESS

I have answered that, according to the deputation I received this morning, there is that tendency, but that is the only information that I have on the subject.

Mr. ALEXANDER

Then we may understand that the assumed benefit to the farmer of this freight relief is quite cancelled out?

Mr. GUINNESS

Not at all; I have no evidence of that. It is an extremely complicated matter to say how this freight relief will work out, and this is only one of many factors. I think there is no doubt that the farmer will get a great benefit in the reduction of the cost of his meal.

Captain CROOKSHANK

Might not one way out of the difficulty be to exclude this altogether from the Schedule, and thus leave a little more on the other traffics to the advantage of the farmer?

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Treat all alike!

Mr. GUINNESS

I think it would be very difficult to justify the omission of this from the Schedule. A great many farmers are anxious to have cheap meal, and I think they would much regret this being left out.

Mr. TAYLOR

Is it not really a subsidy on imported corn at the expense of British corn?

Mr. GUINNESS

No, I do not think so.