28. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will circularize 17 the various corn trade associations throughout the country, drawing their attention to the many instances of the uneconomic price at which feeding-stuffs are offered to the farmers throughout the country, and to the price which farmers have to pay at present for their feeding supplies which is excessive and unrelated to the low price at which wheat is selling throughout the world?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithI am unable to agree that my hon. Friend's assumptions with respect to the prices of feeding-stuffs are in accord with the existing position. Almost all the principal feeding-stuffs have been cheaper during the past three months than in the corresponding periods of the last two years, and I am satisfied that there are adequate supplies of feeding-stuffs available to farmers at reasonable prices. The question of taking action such as that suggested by my hon. Friend does not, therefore, arise.
Mr. De la BèreIs my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that the present price of wheat is the lowest price on record for 150 years? Why should the farmers pay £6 or 7 for their wheat offals when the price of wheat is only £5? It is absolutely ridiculous. Will my right hon. and gallant Friend look into the matter?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithI have looked into it. Perhaps my hon. Friend will come to see me about it afterwards.
§ Mr, J. MorganIs it not a fact that feeding-stuff prices based upon wheat are 40 percent. above the wheat parity price? Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman consider that a reasonable relationship?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithThis question was thrashed out the other night on the Motion for the Adjournment. It is not a new fact that in certain circumstances the price of wheat offals can be above the price of wheat itself. The prices of manufacture do, in fact, stay up, and have tended to rise. When the price of wheat comes down it accentuates the position.