§ 74. Commander Agnewasked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the fact that adherence to 15th June as the closing date this year for free loadings of Cornish early potatoes will result in heavy offering of immature potatoes with consequent loss of food to the nation, he will postpone the date for a fortnight.
§ Sir B. Smith:I do not consider that it is necessary to prolong the period during which growers in Cornwall an adjacent districts are compelled to sell all their new potatoes to my Department. After 15th June Cornish growers will be able to market their potatoes freely. Moreover, the Ministry will continue to buy sufficient Cornish potatoes to meet consumption needs, and will take reasonable steps to assist the orderly marketing of first early potatoes and the clearance of land for essential following crops.