§ Mr. PROTHEROasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the delay in taking delivery of the wool-clip and in making payment for the purchase is causing inconvenience to farmers, and, from want of proper storage, deterioration in the value of the wool; and whether he will take steps to expedite the completion of the transaction?
§ Mr. FORSTEROver 60 per cent. of the-wool of the United Kingdom has been delivered, valued, and paid for to date. This rate of progress is quite as fast as in normal times, and, as far as the War 1233W Office is concerned, I may say that payment is made on the same day that the invoices are received. The hon. Member is no doubt aware that the wool is collected through the usual trade channels and that practically every wool merchant in the country is occupied in the valuation and classing of wool. Wool merchants have given their fair proportion of men to the Army and are suffering like other trades from shortage of labour. It is, therefore, unreasonable to expect them to handle 100,000,000 lbs. weight of wool at a faster rate than in times of peace. No case of deterioration owing to bad storage has been brought to my notice, and every farmer has been expressly instructed to notify the district executive officer if he has insufficient storage accommodation, in order that special arrangements may be made for taking delivery of his wool.