§ Mr. Hunterasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will arrange that wagons used by local contractors for taking farmers' stock to market and bringing goods to and from railway for their farms, be not taken without consultation with the local agricultural executive committee as the scarcity of wagons may soon imperil the farmers' ability to produce food?
Mr. HudsonThe position regarding the requisitioning of vehicles used for the transport of agricultural products is governed by Treasury circulars. It is provided thereunder that vehicles
normally used wholly or mainly for the conveyance of raw materials for food manufacture, of agricultural products and of livestock, for the bulk or wholesale distribution of foodstuffs and for the essential retail distribution of foodsmay not be reserved or requisitioned by any service. My Department is prepared to take up with the Ministry of Transport any cases in which the reservation, requisitioning or commandeering by any service of vehicles covered by the above 1158W description can be said to have a detrimental effect on food production. The particulars required for this purpose are the registered number of the vehicle, the purpose for which the vehicle is ordinarily used and, if practicable, the name of the requisitioning or impressment officer.