§ Mr. CHADWICKasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if hay commandeered a year ago is now, in many cases, just being removed from the producing farms; whether the market price is now about 100 per cent, higher than it was at the end of 1918; and, if so, who gets the profit?
§ Mr. FORSTERI have been asked to reply to this question. There is still a certain amount of hay purchased by the War Department a year ago, which is only now being removed from the producing farms. This is due to the fact that, while the whole of the hay of the 1918 crop required for Army use was purchased before February of this year, baling operations have had to be continued throughout the whole year, it being clearly impossible to bale all the hay immediately it is purchased. With regard to the second part of the question, the price for sales of hay of the 1918 crop is still regulated by Army Council Order, and, so far from being 100 per cent. higher, it is the same as it was a year ago, except for an additional 10 per cent. dryage allowance. There is, therefore, no question of profit.