896 



Prices of Home-Grown Wheat. 



[Jan., 



3. That the free export of wheat for the continent 

 be permitted. 



"4. That millers making flour from native wheat 

 should be permitted to sell the flour at a price lower than 

 the flat rate prescribed by the Food Controller. 



" 5. That the Cereals (Eestriction) Order, 1919, be 

 withdrawn so that farmers unable, in spite of the above 

 concessions, to market their produce may feed to stock 

 as in pre-war days. 



The National Farmers" Union respectfully record their 

 opinion that if the functions of the Wheat Commission as 

 now^ exercised in relation to mills were discontinued, farmers 

 would, under the influence of free conditions, have little 

 difliculty in obtaining readily the assured maximum price 

 of 95s. until such time as the reduction in the cost of 

 imported grain compelled them to take less." 



I am. &c.. 

 (Sgd.) A. D. ALLEN, 



General Secretary. 



The Ri^ht Hon. The Lord Lee of Fareham. 



The following is a copy of the Ministry's reply : — 



17th December, 1920. 



Sir, — I am directed to refer to your letter of the 15th inst., 

 forwarding a resolution passed by the National Farmers' Union 

 with reference to the price of wheat and to say that the Minister 

 has already given careful consideration to the question of the 

 prices now being realised for British wheat and has taken steps 

 in regard to several of the proposals referred to specifically in 

 the Resolution. 



1. With reference to the proposal that millers should be 

 required for a period of one month to use an admixture of 20 

 per cent, of English wheat, I am to say that the Minister is 

 advised that the proportion of English wheat used is on the 

 average approximately 18 per cent., and that in the opinion of 

 the Flour Mills Control Committee no substantial benefit would 

 be obtained by prescribing a fixed proportion in all cases. 



2. With regard to the percentage of extraction. I am to point 

 out that the rate of extraction has recently been lowered from 

 76 to 75 per cent. In response to representations from this 

 Department, the Ministry is informed by the Flour Mills Con- 

 trol Committee that a new rate will come into force on the 20th 

 Dpcenibpr bv which the extraction will be still further lowered 



