98 



Export of Worn Out Horses. 



[May, 



The Ministry announced on the 23rd of March that it had been 

 informed by the Ministry of Food that the average c.i.f, cost of 

 imported wheat calculated as stated above for the month of 

 March was 102s. 7d. per 480 lb. After making the necessary 

 adjustment for moisture content, the equivalent price for home- 

 grown wheat is approximately 96s. 3d. per 504 lb. The price of 

 95s. per 504 lb. payable by millers therefore remained unaffected 

 during the month of April. 



As regards the price payable during the month of May, the 

 Ministry is informed that the Royal Commission on Wheat Sup- 

 plies calculate that the cost of wheat imported during February, 

 March and April is equivalent to 92s. per qr. of 504 lb. for home- 

 grown wheat of sound milling quality. For the month of May, 

 1921. therefore, the average price properly receivable by growers 

 will be 92s. per 504 lb. 



Special arrangements have been made which should enable 

 millers to use home-grown wheat freely and to pay for it on the 

 average a price not less than the price properly receivable by 

 growers for wheat of average quality. Choice samples should 

 realise prices above the average, but lower prices can only be 

 expected for samples of inferior quality or condition. 



Xo definite guarantee can of course be given that millers will 

 be able to purchase all the home-grown wheat that may be offered 

 to them at any given time, especially if farmers press their wheat 

 •on the market in excess of normal requirements, but the Ministry 

 does not doubt that the whole of the wheat crop is required and 

 that it will have been absorbed by the mills by 18th August next, 

 the date at which the present arrangement will come to an end. 

 ****** 



Many complaints have lately reached the Ministry from those 

 who have seen or heard that British horses landed in Belgium 

 Ex ort of are °^ en * n a cona, ition that should have 

 ttt A l tt precluded their export. For some time past 



Worn Out Horses. f, AT . . , , \ , ,. 1 



the Ministry has been conducting a very 



-careful investigation into conditions in Belgium and at our home 

 ports, and as a result it was ascertained that while the standard 

 at the Port of London is uniformly high, certain cargoes which 

 have been allowed to leave provincial ports have contained horses 

 which in the Ministry's opinion did not conform to the standard 

 set up by the Act of 1914. In order to secure the greater super- 

 vision which is necessary in order to maintain humane condi- 

 tions, it has been decided to employ an additional Staff of Veteri- 

 nary Surgeons who will give their whole time to this work. 



