§ Mr. J. Morrisonasked the Minister of Food the average cost per acre to the Queensland British Food Corporation of clearing and ploughing the area so far put down to sorghum; and by how much has the cost exceeded the original estimate.
§ Mr. WebbThe total cost of land clearing and development up to 30th September, 1950, was £A.8,175. Expenditure on other operations carried out in order to bring land into a state suitable for agricultural and pastoral operations (and charged to revenue) up to the same date was £A.29,259. The Corporation's records do not, however, enable these costs to be divided between the acreage laid down to crops and the acreage improved for grazing.
215WPloughing is only one of the agricultural operations involved in the growing of crops, and on this point I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave in answer to his Question about sorghum production on 11th June.