§ Mr. STANIERasked the President of the Board of Agriculture if his attention has been called to the Board's Markets Reports, dated 9th October, 1912, stating the store markets for stock are quiet and slow and many stores were unsold; and if he could give the names of the markets where the stores are 10s. to £3 up in value since August?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI have referred to the Market Reports for the two weeks ended on the 2nd and the 9th October respectively. In the week ended the 2nd October it was reported that "store cattle in forward condition are readily sold at high prices." The report for the week ended on the 9th October contained the statements to which the hon. Member refers, and I am informed that the slackness of the trade was in part, at any rate, due to the expectation that Irish stores would shortly be available. It was reported from Norwich that "one or two Irish dealers were taking orders for cattle to be delivered direct to the farms, and this tended to keep prices down." With regard to the second part of the question, the price of two-year-old shorthorn stores at the beginning of October showed a rise of 40s. since August at Norwich and Perth, 1447W and a rise of 20s. at York. The price of two and three-year-old shorthorns at Norwich and Perth was from £2 to £4 per head higher in September than the average of the three previous years. I am not in a position to give a complete list of the markets at which there has been a rise in the price of stores.