§ Mr. PETOasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will state the reason for the rule that all hay released by the War Department for farmers use must be sold through a dealer; whether he is aware that, when every arrangement for the sale is made by the owner, the dealer charges from 10s. to 29s. a ton for acting as the official intermediary; and whether the buyer and seller can be allowed to do business direct at the controlled price?
§ Mr. FORSTERIt has become necessary to control all sales of hay by means of county allotment committees, in order to equalise and expedite the distribution of the supplies that are available. Producers, if they so choose, can avail themselves of the dealers' prices and terms of delivery, and when they do so they are treated as dealers, and are called upon to contribute a sum, not exceeding 5s. per ton, towards the general cost of administering the scheme within their county.