56. Mr. E. P. Smithasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the fact that, in certain parts of Kent, wheat is tending to spoil in the stack as well as being overrun with vermin; whether the delay in threshing the grain is due to a lack of storage accommodation; and, if so, whether he will give the local war agricultural committees powers to requisition suitable buildings for this purpose?
Mr. HudsonMy attention had not previously been called to any serious spoilage of wheat in the stack in Kent, whether from vermin or other causes. Steps have been taken to deal with temporary difficulties that have recently occurred in this area in the disposal of wheat through the increase in threshing outturn owing to the fine weather and the limited intake capacity of the mills. Threshing must, however, be spread over the season to accord with millers' requirements. Some wheat, therefore, has to be kept in stack, which is the best place for storage, until late in the season.