Mr. H. Whiteasked the Minister of Agriculture the number of Government machines doing threshing in Derbyshire, North-East, the charges made for them per day, and the number of days they were in commission during last season.
Mr. HudsonFour Government owned threshing machines are operating in North-East Derbyshire; one of these is operated by the War Agricultural Executive Committee and the remaining three are hired to contractors. Charges made for all these machines are the standard rate for the county based for the 1943–44 season on a charge for threshing of £4 per day. The machines have been working continuously throughout the season, subject to weather conditions.
Mr. H. Whiteasked the Minister of Agriculture (1) if he has considered the 1010W list of charges to operate in the two counties which he has had submitted to him, where the threshing-machine operators in North-East Derbyshire are at a disadvantage by the, sum of £1 10s. per day, as compared with those in a neighbouring county; if he is satisfied that the method of fixing prices in Derbyshire, at the discretion of the customer interest, is equitable; and, after considering the different prices paid, if he will ask the Derbyshire War Agricultural Committee to reconsider their findings;
(2) if he will consider giving to the Local Threshing Machine Association representation on the county war agricùltural committee for the purpose of getting agreed prices.
Mr. HudsonMaximum charges for threshing for the 1944–45 season, at a rather higher rate than for the 1943–44 season, have recently been fixed for the county of Derbyshire with my approval, and were agreed between the County War Agricultural Executive Committee and representatives of both the threshing contractors and the farmers. I do not consider that any alteration in the present arrangements is required.