Mr. Baker Whiteasked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the shortage of hop wire, aggravated by the damage to hop gardens by recent gales; whether he will state the reason for the cancellation of existing permits; and what steps are being taken to make adequate supplies to hop growers available during the coming months.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsI am not aware of any particular shortage of hop wire. Permits are no longer necessary for the acquisition of any quantity of wire strand, or for plain wire in other than large quantities. County war agricultural executive committees will, however, issue permits where these will facilitate acquisition of the wire, but I am aware of no cancellation of any existing permits. I am quite ready to discuss with my colleague the Minister of Supply the question of supplies if it should appear that these will be inadequate during the coming months.