§ 60. Mr. Digbyasked the Minister of Agriculture what maximum charge he has approved for Dorset and Somerset, respectively, for the hire of a tractor threshing machine and two men; and what is the reason for the difference in charges.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsThe maximum charges approved are: Dorset, £6 5s. per day; Somerset, £5 15s. for the first day and £5 10s. for each subsequent day. In both cases these charges had been agreed by the county branches of the National Farmers' Union and the threshing contractors in the respective counties before being recommended by the county war agricultural executive committee for my approval. Threshing charges vary considerably from county to county, owing to variation in local conditions, and my powers of control are used to avoid undue increases rather than to secure uniformity.