§ Mr. CAUTLEYasked the Food Controller whether he is aware that the less close milling of wheat does not affect the quality of the bran now being put on the markets; how he justifies the raising to farmers of the controlled price from £13 to £14 10s. a ton; and will he also consider the injustice of charging farmers 1s. 9d. a sack or 35s. a ton additional to the £14 10s.?
§ Mr. McCURDYThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Shortly after the Armistice, when the extraction from wheat for flour was materially reduced, an increase in price of the fine offals was considered to be more than justified by the improved quality of the product. Since that date, however, the supplies of feeding-stuffs have been materially increased, and the stocks of offals, particularly of bran, in millers' hands have somewhat accumulated, and therefore the price of bran has been reduced £1 per ton, namely, to £13 10s. per ton. The price of bags has also been carefully considered, and a charge at the rate of 25s. per ton, if sold in sacks or bags containing 1 cwt. or less; at 20s. per ton, if sold in sacks or bags containing more than 1 cwt., has been fixed as from 10th February last. These changes are only made in respect of millers' offals sold gross weight, sacks or bags included.