§ Rear-Admiral Beamishasked the Minister of Agriculture whether the National Growers' Association were given warning of the new Horticultural Cropping Order banning the growing of flowers in greenhouses in sufficient time to enable them to avoid employing labour unnecessarily during the summer; and has his attention been drawn to the protest dated the 26th October issued by the National Growers' Association and which is being circulated?
Mr. HudsonThe Horticultural (Cropping) Amendment and Consolidation Order, 1942, which contains a provision restricting the use of fuel in artificially heated glasshouses to certain essential food crops was made on 7th July to take effect on 1st November. It was made clear in public announcements earlier in the year that the use of fuel for the production of non-essential crops during the present winter could not be permitted but no special warning was given to the National Growers' Association. I am aware that this particular association has entered a protest against the Order, but I do not consider that there is any foundation for the suggestion that flower growers were kept in ignorance of the need for further restrictions in the production of flowers.