§ 53. Colonel ROPNERasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the increasing seriousness of the problem presented by surplus potatoes, he will consider advising the Potato Marketing Board to establish factories for the production in this country of farina and dextrine which are now imported into this country in large quantities?
§ Mr. ELLIOTAs I indicated in reply to a question by my hon. and gallant Friend on 4th April, the whole problem of finding profitable outlets for potatoes surplus to human consumption requirements is receiving the active consideration of the Potato Marketing Board.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSMay I ask whether there is a large surplus on the market at the present time, and can the right hon. Gentleman tell us exactly the price of potatoes at the moment?
§ Mr. ELLIOTI should like to have notice of that question.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that chip and fish proprietors are complaining against the excessive price of potatoes?
§ Mr. ELLIOTThe price of potatoes has been at a fairly low level for some time past, and it is a little ungenerous to suggest that there should not be reasonable remuneration for producers.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSWhat does the right hon. Gentleman regard as reasonable remuneration, and for what period is it to obtain?
§ 55. Mr. G. GRIFFITHSasked the Minister of Agriculture the average wholesale and retail prices of Jersey potatoes for each week since the commencement of the season and comparable prices for the previous two years, together with the number of hundredweights shipped during these periods?
Mr. ELLIOTTWith the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT statements giving the
| The Weekly Average Prices (per cwt.) of Jersey New Potatoes, during 1935 and at comparable dates in 1934 and 1933 were: | ||||||||||||||||
| Week ended | 1935. | 1934. | 1933. | |||||||||||||
| 1st quality. | 2nd quality. | 1st quality. | 2nd quality. | 1st quality. | 2nd quality. | |||||||||||
| s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | |||||
| May 1st | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| May 8th | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — | 28 | 6 | 25 | 0 | ||||
| May 15th | … | … | … | … | 37 | 4 | 28 | 0 | 35 | 2 | 30 | 10 | 24 | 7 | 22 | 0 |
| May 22nd | … | … | … | … | 36 | 1 | 31 | 6 | 30 | 2 | 25 | 9 | 19 | 6 | 17 | 7 |
| May 29th | … | … | … | … | 23 | 11 | 22 | 4 | 21 | 7 | 19 | 9 | 16 | 1 | 14 | 6 |
| June 5th | … | … | … | … | 20 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 15 | 9 | 14 | 2 |
| June 12th | … | … | … | … | 20 | 2 | 18 | 7 | 16 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 16 | 7 | 14 | 11 |
| June 19th | … | … | … | … | *25 | 2 | *22 | 2 | 14 | 3 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 4 | 11 | 10 |
| * Provisional. |
| The Imports of Potatoes from the Channel Islands* into the United Kingdom during the period 4th May to 8th June in 1935 compared with the corresponding period in 1934 and 1933 were: | |||||
| 1935 Week ended | 1935 Quantity. | 1934 Quantity. | 1933 Quantity. | ||
| cwt. | cwt. | cwt. | |||
| May 4 | … | … | 128 | 450 | 1,419 |
| May 11 | … | … | 137 | 1,310 | 7,781 |
| May 18 | … | … | 3,232 | 17,105 | 28,961 |
| May 25 | … | … | 40,970 | 41,358 | 93,467 |
| June 1 | … | … | 130,006 | 159,041 | 62,210 |
| June 8 | … | … | 167,309 | 158,767 | 220,563 |
| Total in period | … | … | 341,782 | 378,031 | 414,401 |
| * Imports from Jersey are not shown separately. |