§ Mr. J. Morrisonasked the Minister of Agriculture if the 1948 grain prices, as agreed, refer to the whole of the 1948 crop; and what steps are to be taken to avoid unfairness to the producers in early districts harvesting before 1st August.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsSince control of prices was introduced in the early war years it has been the practice to prescribe grain prices for each cereal year beginning 1st August, and these prices apply to all grain offered for sale in the year concerned. It is not possible to differentiate between grain harvested in different years, and grain harvested in July may either be offered for sale in that month, in which case it realises the appropriate price for that month, or it may be retained until August when the new price schedule comes into operation. Any possible 241W unfairness to growers in the early districts might be more than counterbalanced by the higher prices that would have to be charged to farmers in other areas who purchased grain for feeding to stock, more especially as the increased prices would also have to apply to imported grain.