§ Mr. EVERARDasked the Minister of Agriculture the value of the present stock of hops held by the Hop Control; the value of the stock it is estimated will be held when the control terminates; and how he proposes to deal with that stock?
Mr. WOODI am informed that the stock of hops at present held by the Hop Controller was originally valued at, approximately, £700,000. The hops have depreciated in store, to some extent, and it would be difficult to give an estimate of their present value until the effects of the removal of control have been seen. With regard to the latter part of the question, I have invited the Hop Controller to maintain an organisation to dispose of these hops, with the advice of a small committee representative of the growers.