956 



Questions in Pari,l\ment. 



[Jan., 



namely, horses untit for work, sliall under no circumstances be passed for 

 shipment, and that every practicable step shall be taken to secure the comfort 

 of all animals during the passage. For this purpose a very high standard of 

 fitness to travel and to work is insisted upon, and a great improvement has 

 been elfected in the fittings of the vessels used for the trade. I understand 

 that maltreatment of horses is already punishable under French and Belgian 

 law, which I have no doubt the authorities do their best to enforce. 

 (November 7, 1921.) 



Potatoes from Germany.— In reply to a question by Lord Bledisloe 

 regarding a rumour which, he said, was current in all our chief potato-growing 

 •districts, that large quantities of potatoes raised in Germany are being 

 imported, or are about to be imported, into this country through various 

 neutral countries, the Earl of Ancaster stated that the importation of potatoes 

 from the Netherlands and other countries adjacent to Germany in the present 

 year is quite normal, and gives no ground for suspicion that fictitious 

 re-consignment of German potatoes from an intermediate country is being 

 attempted. There is a payment of 26 per cent, under the German Reparation 

 (Recovery) Act, and I understand that the Customs officers have standing 

 instructions to watch importations which might cause suspicion to arise that 

 €ndeavours are being made to avoid, by fictitious re-consignment from an 

 intermediate country, the payment of this 26 per cent. 



Under the Safeguarding of Industries Act, 33^ per cent, is charged in 

 certain cases. The first part of that Act does not apply to potatoes ; neither 

 does Part II. From enquiries which have been made by the Ministry of 

 Agriculture, I understand that the trade in Continental potatoes is bad. In 

 the few cases where trade is being done the quality is moderate. The 

 Ministry is satisfied that the quantities which are being imported are not 

 an important factor in determining the price of home-grown potatoes. 

 (November 8, 1921.) 



Rome-Grown Sug'ar, Limited. — Lieut.-Colonel Willey asked the 

 Minister of Agriculture if the Government have a nominee on the board of 

 Home-grown Sugar, Limited ; v\'hether the price now being offered for next 

 year's beet is believed to be substantially below cost of production unless 

 wages are further substantially reduced ; and if, in view of tlie large amount 

 of employment afforded by this industry, he is considering the removal of 

 Excise on home-grown sugar? 



Sir Arthur G. Boscawen; The answer to the first part of the question is in 

 the affirmative. At the prevailing rates for wages and transport it is possible 

 that the proposed minimum guaranteed price for next year's beet is below the 

 present cost of production, but in addition to benefiting by any decrease in 

 costs of production, the farmer will share equally with the company in any 

 profits derived from an increase of sugar content above 16 per cent, and of 

 sugar price above £43 per ton duty paid. As regards the last part of the 

 question, home-grown sugar is already receiving favourable treatment, the 

 Standard Excise duty being 19s. 6^d. per cwt., as compared with 258. 8d. on 

 foreign sugar and 21s. 4^d. on colonial sugar. (November 10, 1921). 



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