§ Mr. STANTONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if his Department will take over at once all potato stocks in the country and thereby nullify the schemes of those who have held their potato stocks for the higher price of next month; and if he will issue potato tickets, so that all the people shall have a share pro rata to the extent of their families as long as the stocks last?
Captain BATHURSTThe higher price for potatoes after the and of March was intended to prevent the whole stock from being thrown on the market prematurely. The Food Controller sees no sufficient ground for taking over the remaining stocks or for introducing a system of rationing as regards potatoes. Owing to the shortage of supply, the result would be wholly disproportionate to the effort and expense involved in setting up such a system.