§ Sir JOHN SPEARasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the high prices of linseed and cotton cakes are caused by the cost of freightage and not by the cost of the raw material; and, seeing how important an element these cakes are in producing milk and meat, will he employ some of the steamers chartered at Blue Book rates in bringing these feeding-stuffs and thus reduce the cost of production, and thereby increase the quantity of milk and meat available for consumption?
Mr. RUNCIMANI am aware of the effect of rates of freight on the cost of feeding-stuffs, and thus on the price of meat and milk. The question of securing tonnage for the carriage of this and other essential commodities is being anxiously considered, but I am not at present able to give any guarantee that any one particular commodity (beyond those for which arrangements have already been made) can be carried in vessels requisitioned at Blue Book rates.