§ Sir A. LISTERasked the Food Controller if he is aware that horses and cattle are suffering from the want of hay which has been commandeered by him from the farmers; whether he will release part of this hay to meet urgent necessities; and whether he is aware that the need is so great that during the past week £12 per ton has been paid for newly-made hay and hauled into Bristol by the purchaser?
§ Mr. FORSTERI have been asked to reply. I am not aware that horses and cattle belonging to farmers are suffering from want of hay. Any farmer who was not satisfied that sufficient hay had been left him for his own stock had a right of appeal under Army Council Order of the 30th July, 1918, to the farm produce county committee of his county, and that committee had absolute discretion to decide the quantity that should be left him. Where a farmer's hay is held by the War Department, and delivery has not yet been taken, and the farmer, though he did not appeal under the Army Council Order referred to, now finds that he has not sufficient for his own stock until the 1919 crop comes into use, he should apply to the district purchase officer for a release. The latter officer refers such applications to the farm produce county committee, and they are granted if the committee so recommend.