§ 30. Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Food why he has sent out a circular asking for swedes to be stored; what price is he offering as a storage fee, and for how long; and in view of the fact that swedes will stand up to frost in the open better than any other vegetable, why has he asked that they should be stored.
§ Mr. StracheyAs a safeguard against a vegetable and potato shortage in the spring, I arranged for a reserve of swedes to be stored. Most of it will be kept in clamps and only a minor part in merchants' warehouses. The merchants selling these swedes receive a commission payment, covering storage, of 20s. per ton, out of the total wholesale margin provided by the Root Vegetables Order. The period of storage varies with the rate at which the swedes are cleared. It was necessary to store some swedes where they would be readily accessible.
§ Sir W. SmithersDoes not the Minister of Food realise that this order and similar orders make him the laughing stock of farmers, growers and distributors of vegetables?
§ Mr. StracheyOn the question of who is the laughing stock, I would not like to comment.