§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the Minister of Agriculture what information he has given to agriculturists regarding the proposed freight relief on the carriage of carrots in bulk for cattle feeding and the carriage of washed carrots for human consumption; whether it is proposed to exempt washed carrots from relief and, if so, for what reason; whether potatoes are to get the proposed relief in freights; and what principle will guide the application of such relief?
Mr. GUINNESSDetails of the agricultural traffics selected to benefit by the reduction of railway freight charges were announced at the meeting of the Council of Agriculture on 18th October. The list was distributed at the meeting and has1116W received considerable notice in the Press. I am circulating a copy in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The list includes "carrots, mangel wurzel or turnips in bulk for feeding livestock" but does not include carrots for human consumption. All potatoes, except new potatoes, are also included in the list. The principles which guided the Ministry in selecting the list were that the traffics should be confined to as few essential commodities as possible so as to produce reductions sufficiently large to afford substantial assistance and that the relief should, as far as possible, be confined to commodities in which the greatest number of farmers are interested.
De-Rating of Railways: Railway Freight Relief — Selected Agricultural Traffics.
The rebate will apply to the following agricultural traffics when conveyed (except in the case of milk) at merchandise train rates:—
- (1) Manures for use in Great Britain and consigned as such, i.e., any manures in bulk including limestone and lime and chalk, basic slag and salt for agricultural purposes; also packed manure, including any substance for use direct as manure or any manure substance to be mixed and used as manure and so consigned, packed.
- (2) Feeding stuffs, including the following: Oil cake; meals and husks for animal or poultry feeding; foods for livestock consisting of meals with spice, molasses or condiment; milling offals; treacle for cattle feeding consigned direct to farmers; ensilage; hay; chopped hay and straw; provender consisting of chopped hay and straw mixed with grain; carrots, mangel wurzel or turnips in bulk for feeding live stock; beetroot pulp (the residue from sugar making) for feeding live stock; and brewers' and distillers' grains (or Draff).
- (3) Potatoes, excluding new potatoes.
- (4) Milk (whole or separated, uncondensed) in churns, cans, butts and in bottles packed in cases.
- (5) Live stock.
The calculation of the percentage rebate has not yet been completed, but it is hoped that the reduction will amount to about 10 per cent. of existing freights.