§ Sir P. MAGNUSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, on the 24th November, the Wheat Commission disposed of a parcel of 4,000 tons of Blue Stem or Walla Walla wheat, of which they sold 1008W 2,000 tons to merchants at Bristol for shipment to Avonmouth at 80s. per quarter and the remaining 2,000 tons to Liverpool at 75s. per quarter, or 5s. less; if so, will he say why West of England millers are thus penalised; and whether he will consider the desirability of stopping this practice of differential treatment of purchasers of the same commodity and thus check the pressure upon the railways and the inconvenience consequent upon purchases by millers of their grain from distant rather than from neighbouring ports?
§ Sir R. WINFREYThe prices quoted are correct, but the wheat was not part of the same parcel nor was it in the same position as to date of shipment. Both prices, were strictly in accord with the values of the wheat in the different positions at the time, but it has since been found possible to raise the price for parcels to Liverpool to 78s., leaving the price of cargoes to Bristol and elsewhere at 80s.