asked the President of the Board of Trade what amount of tea is now held up at the London Docks owing to want of means of distribution?

While I have received information that some holding up of tea in the London Docks has occurred recently, the quantity involved is less than half a week's import at the rate at which tea has recently been reaching London. I am, however, unable at present to say whether the information supplied to me is exhaustive. I may add that deliveries in recent months have been in excess of the average.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state in values the amounts of our exports and imports respectively during the twelve months for which he has the latest records, and the date thereof; and whether he can state the value of the United States exports and imports respectively during the same period, or, if not, for twelve months ending at the date for which he has records, and the date thereof.

The figures for the twelve months ended May, 1919, are:

Is it not the fact that if our exports do not increase and our imports decrease we are heading for bankruptcy?

I think that must be obvious to everyone who thinks for a moment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the tonnage and value of the steel and iron of all descriptions imported into this country during the past six months or during the latest six months for which he has a record, the date thereof, and from what countries; and the tonnage and value of steel and iron of all descriptions exported during the same period?

Two hundred and four thousand seven hundred and twenty-two tons of iron and steel and manufactures thereof, valued at £5,021,000, were registered as imported into the United Kingdom during the six months ended 30th June, 1919. Of this quantity 154,155 tons were consigned from the United States of America, 31,682 tons from Sweden, and 17,079 tons from Canada, the respective values being £3,251,000, £1,145,000, and £527,000. During the same period 1,033,732 tons of iron and steel and manufactures thereof, valued at £27,717,000, were registered as exported from the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state what is the estimated loss in wages to British labour by the placing of a contract for £100,000 worth of steel rails in the United States; and whether he can give an approximate estimate of the cost of the coal consumed in the production of a ton of steel rails?

As I informed the hon. and gallant Member on the 17th July, I am not in a position to give the wages estimate asked for, but I would point out that the figure would be small, as, in view of the demand for steel, it would relate only to the wages paid for the rolling of the quantity of rails in question. The approximate cost of the coal consumed in the production of 1 ton of steel rails, starting from iron ore, would, at the prices recently ruling, be about 70s. to £4.

Is that sufficient to make the difference between the price of steel rails purchased in America and the price of those purchased in this country?

It is not quite sufficient.

Will the right hon. Gentleman look into it?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the tonnage and value of steel plates, angles, etc., ordered in America by our Government Departments during the past two years; what quantity has already been brought into this country; whether it is intended to import the balance into this country; whether these steel plates and angles were intended principally for shipbuilding here; whether these plates and sections do not comply with Lloyd's requirements and are of unsuitable dimensions for our shipbuilding requirements, entailing a considerable amount of cutting and waste; whether it would be more economical and advantageous to dispose of this steel in America and Canada; whether the Ministry of Munitions is circularising British consumers offering them these steel plates and angles now lying in America and Canada; what price this steel is being offered at; and whether this dumping of foreign steel is in accordance with the declared intention of the Government?

As the answer is long and detailed I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The following is the reply referred to:

The total tonnage of steel plates and angles ordered in America by His Majesty's Government for shipbuilding purposes during the past two years amounts to 151,000 tons, at an average price of £16 5s. per ton f.o.b. American port, of which 48,000 tons have been cancelled since the Armistice; 79,000 tons have already been brought into this country. It is not possible to state whether any part of the balance will be imported into this country, as it will be disposed of in accordance with the policy of the Government in the best markets. These steel plates and angles were intended principally for shipbuilding here. They were made to the standard specification of the American Society for Testing Materials; Lloyd's Register of Shipping have agreed to accept this material for use in the construction of vessels building to their classification.

If an equivalent price, taking into account the cost of transport and handling, can be obtained in America, Canada or elsewhere, it might be more economical to dispose of this material in those countries. The Ministry of Munitions have circularised British consumers, offering this material for disposal. It is contrary to the public interest to quote prices that are being obtained for material which, for the most part, must be sold by private treaty or public tender, but it may be stated that the prices realised are commensurate with the market price of similar material produced in this country. This being the case, there is no question of dumping foreign steel in this market.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether, in view of the high cost of living, he will explain the reason for the import restrictions on the following household necessities: Brooms and brushes, carpets, chinaware, cutlery, clocks, flat-irons, furniture, lamps, mangles, mops, oilcloth, oil stoves, clothes pegs, and sewing machines;

(2) whether, in view of the present high cost of clothing, he will explain the reason for the import restrictions on the following articles: Ladies' apparel, boots and shoes, buttons, cotton duck, embroidery, flax yarn, gloves, hosiery, laces, metal boot protectors, leather, scissors, sewing machines, silk manufactures, shoemakers' tools, trimmings, umbrellas, and woollen goods;

(3) whether, in view of the high cost of food, he will explain the reason for the import restrictions on the following articles: Butter, tinned herrings, sprats, etc., tinned salmon, cocoa, saccharine, and tomatoes;

(4) whether, in view of the high cost of building materials and the urgent need for proceeding with the Government housing scheme, he will explain the reason for the import restrictions on the following articles: Door bells, bulbs for electric lamps, cement, crowbars, fence stretchers, gas mantles, granite, wooden handles for builders' tools, hardware, builders' joinery, locks and padlocks, mouldings, nails, painters' colours, paints, rainwater pipes and guttering, pulleys, slates, tanks, taps for gas, water, and steam, wood, and wire?

If the hon. and gallant Member will study the movements of the New York-London rates of exchange he will, I am sure, appreciate the need of maintaining some restriction of imports until the food and raw material position is satisfactory. With regard to the importation of leather, gloves of leather, cocoa, paints, and wood, he has apparently been misinformed. These are unrestricted. In the case of many of the other goods to which he refers, the ration varies from 25 per cent, to 100 per cent, of usual imports. Full particulars were published in the Supplement to the "Board of Trade Journal" for 5th June

Will the right hon. Gentleman say, in reference to those articles which are unrestricted, whether it is necessary to make application for licences to import them?

I could not answer offhand, but I imagine not.

Do they appear in the list of import restrictions?

They appear there for a general licence.

What is the purpose of requiring people to ask for a licence if the import of these articles is unrestricted?

The hon. and gallant Member, if he will follow the Regulations, will see the value of that procedure.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that in this matter the interest of the consumer is being subordinated to that of the manufacturer?

Oh, no. I am sure the interest of the consumer is not being sub-orlinated. The interest of the consumer is to get food and raw materials into the country as cheaply as possible, and if the exchange moves very much further against us, the prices of these things will go up enormously.

Are these restrictions applied only to those countries where the exchange is adverse?

Oh, no: because that is not possible by the law of the land.

Under what statute or statutes are these restrictions being imposed?

I have announced the statute several times, and I will let my hon. and gallant Friend have a copy of the answer I gave on former occasions.

asked the Prime Minister when the Report may be expected of the Committee appointed under the chairmanship of Lord Cave to inquire into questions of foreign trade and the constitution of the Department of Overseas Trade; and when the Report will be in the hands of Members?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Kincardine and Western on Thursday last.

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether the House will have an opportunity of discussing that Report?

I said then that though it is not usual to publish reports for the guidance of the Cabinet, I thought this must be an exception, but the Cabinet must have an opportunity to consider it first.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that our export trade is gravely threatened, owing chiefly to want of knowledge on the part of workers, and of the fact that the cinema theatre offers the only means of daily informing such workers upon the operation of elementary economic laws, the Government will take immediate steps to prevent the impending creation by a foreign agency of a trust, combine, or corner in cinema films and theatres?

I have been asked to reply. I have no information which suggests that any such attempt at a monopoly as the hon. Baronet suggests is being made; I shall, however, be grateful if he will let me have the information upon which his question is based.

Will he consider the advisability of using cinema films for the purpose indicated in the question?

Oh, yes.

Will Members of Parliament be invited?

asked the President of the Board of Trade to state what steps the Government propose to take to maintain our export trade in coal in view of the great disparity in price at which coal is being sold f.o.b. at American coal ports and British coal ports, and the great disparity between the amount of coal got by American miners per head per annum and the amount got by British miners per head per annum; and what these amounts are, respectively?

As regards the first part of the question, I can only refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made in the House on Monday. With regard to the second part of the question, a complete comparison is only available for the year 1916, in which the output of coal in the United Kingdom was 265 tons per person employed per year, while in the United States the output of bituminous coal was 800 tons per person employed per year. The figures are given in each case in tons of 2,240 lbs.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the freights by American vessels to South America are about double what they are by British ships, and that when American freights come to a parity with ours the whole of our export trade will disappear?

I am afraid there will be great difficulty in maintaining our export trade unless we can get the output of coal up.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the average profit of coal-owners on a ton of coal sold in this country; and what percentage of profit that represents at present prices?

I stated in the House last Monday that the average price of coal, including the increase of 6s. per ton, will be 29s. 3½d. per ton sold. The fixed owners' profit of 1s. 2d. per ton raised is equivalent to 1s. 3½d. per ton sold, and is, approximately, 4.5 per cent,. of the average selling price.

Will the right hon. Gentleman let these facts be known to the mining world?

I am sure they are known to anyone who wishes to know.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the necessary legislation has been introduced to carry that into effect, or whether it is not a fact that they are being paid at present at their pre-war standard?

The hon. Member knows as well as any Member of the House that the actual legislation which will be required legally to limit the employers' profits to 1s. 2d. has not been before the House, but all the calculations I made use of last Monday, and all the figures I have given, are on the assumption that legislation will be passed to give effect to that announcement, as announced by the Leader of the House.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what the profits actually have been and are, apart from that legislation?

The profits are not worked out, as my hon. Friend knows, from day to day, but for the year they will be at the rate of 1s. 2d. per ton.

Will that also be applied to the East-end of London?

I did not know the coal-owners were making more than that.

Oh, are they not!

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the output of coal, in tonnage and in value during the six months ended 30th June of this year and of last year, respectively; what was the average number employed during each of the two periods; and what was the aggregate amount paid in wages during each of the two periods?

Yes, Sir, as nearly as my information will permit.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the approximate net profit of coal mines during the year 1918 before deduction of Excess Profits Tax and after deduction of Excess Profits Tax, respectively; and what was the total amount paid in salaries and in wages, respectively during the same period?

As the reply is rather lengthy, I propose with the permission of the House to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to an Order from the Board of Trade (Coal Mines Department) instructing gas companies in the South of England to purchase sea-borne coal from Durham and Northumberland; whether he is aware that the effect of such Order will entail an increase in the price of coal of from 8s. to 10s. per ton, and a consequential increase in the price of gas of at least 1s. per 1,000 cubic feet per ton; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

This is part of a general rearrangement of supplies due to the necessity of supplying sea-borne coal from exporting districts in substitution for rail-borne coal which has hitherto been supplied from Yorkshire and the Midlands, in which districts inland consumption has to bear the full effect of the reduction in output due to the shortening of the miners' hours.

Is it fair to the gas companies to have to pay this increased price, entirely due to the action of the Government?

The hon. Member is misinformed or is under a misapprehension in thinking that it is due to the Government's Order. The increase in the price of sea-borne coal is due to economic causes which push up freights generally.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Cabinet has considered the question of making a part experiment with the nationalisation of the coal mines; and what decision in that case has been reached?

I am not in a position to make any statement.

When will the Government be in a position to make a statement?

I cannot say. I am sure my hon. Friend and the House will realise that it is a subject that cannot be rushed hastily and that it must be properly considered.

Does my right hon. Friend think he will be able to make any statement before the Adjournment?

I really cannot say as to that. We shall certainly not delay longer than it is absolutely necessary.

(by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the increased price of coal, it is the intention of the Government to take into consideration the cases of British manufacturers who have made contracts for the supply of manufactured articles on the basis of coal prices previous to the 14th instant; what action the Government proposes to take to assist manufacturers who have completed contracts without a protective Clause providing for an increase in the price of coal and who will consequently suffer grave financial loss; and whether, in view of the menace to British trade from an increase in the price of coal, the Government will make such concessions as will enable British manufacturers to complete the contracts which they have made abroad?

It would be quite impossible to adopt the suggestion of my hon. Friend. This is one of the inevitable hardships of the situation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the possible effect of the present shortage and cost of coal and gas upon those people whose incomes are less than a pre-war average of 25s. per week should there be another influenza epidemic during the coming winter; and whether, having regard to this shortage and cost and the necessity for exporting more coal, he will consider the advisability of urging upon the heads of great industrial undertakings the desirability of substituting oil fuel for coal, with a view to lessening the present demand for coal and enabling poor people to obtain it in larger quantities and at cheaper prices?

I do not think it would be practicable to secure any considerable alleviation of the coal position for the coming winter by the substitution of oil fuel for coal in industrial works, as this would involve important alterations to plant. But I have no doubt that the idea is being carefully considered in many industries. Gas works have been urged to make greater use of gas oil, and I believe this is being done, so far as possible. An increase in the output of coal is the best remedy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to state on what grounds the railway companies refuse to take empties; and if he is aware of the great inconvenience and loss this is causing small traders?

I am not aware that railway companies refuse to take empties when they are able to do so. They realise that it is in many cases important that empties should be returned promptly, and although there have been delays due to difficulties in regard to cartage and other circumstances, I hope that the position may be improved.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the pre-war system of allocating railway revenue and expenses through the Railway Clearing House to the companies respectively concerned has been resumed; and, if not, what system of arriving at exact earnings and expenses with a view to ascertaining economy or extravagance on the part of individual companies is in force?

:The system under which the Railway Clearing House dealt with the division between railway companies of receipts from through traffic has not been resumed. I agree that this renders precise accounting between companies impossible, but I am advised that the slight lack of precision does not affect the question of ascertaining the expenditure of the companies under Government control, which is reviewed on the audit of the companies' accounts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the setting up of a Committee to inquire into the Gattie goods station system which has already been investigated by the Minister- designate for Ways and Communications, he will set up a Committee to inquire into the Kearney high-speed tube?

I do not think an inquiry by a Committee is necessary in this case.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now state the number of special railway trains run by the respective railway companies during the Derby week at Epsom and the Ascot race week to Ascot?

My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade has already written to the hon. Gentleman giving this information.

asked the Presdent of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the passenger staircases at Monument Station, District Railway, are largely used for wet fish traffic from Billingsgate Market; and whether he can take any steps with the railway company concerned to prevent these stairways or some of them from being so used, so that passengers shall not have to use stairs that are dirty and unpleasant, caused by the leakages from cases of fish?

I will make inquiry of the railway company, and inform the hon. Gentleman of the result.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Railway Executive Committee has yet come to a decision as to reopening the stations and working the railway on the Victoria to City line of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway Company?

I am afraid that I cannot add to the reply given to the hon. Member on this subject on the 30th June.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he can now state whether the reply of the Government of India regarding the question of awards for the defence of Kut has been received; and when a statement may be expected as to what steps it is proposed to take to give due recognition to the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men, both British and Indian, who were engaged in that gallant defence?

The reply has not yet been received from the Government of India; but they have informed me that it will be sent as soon as possible. I have sent a telegram of reminder.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has received any despatches from the Government of India dealing with the recommendations of the Indian Industrial Commission; whether he will publish such or any part of such despatches; and whether steps are to be taken forthwith to make the necessary changes in the fiscal system of India in order that the recommendations of the Industrial Commission may be carried out, and Indian industrial development secured against the dumping of cheap Japanese goods in India?

I have received and am now considering a despatch from the Government of India on the subject, but I cannot at present say whether the correspondence will be published. I do not altogether follow the latter part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question, as the Commission was precluded by its terms of reference from considering questions of fiscal policy.

asked what was the total value of Japanese manufactured goods imported into India in the years 1913, 1914, 1918, and the early months (as far as figures are available) of 1919?

Figures for calendar years are not available, but the total value of imports into India from Japan was £3,187,000 in 1913–14, £2,966,000 in 1914–15, and £22,404,000 in 1918–19. Only a small proportion of these imports were not manufactured goods.

asked the Secretary of State for India, in connection with the Karachi troop-train incident, whether there were three fully-qualified Royal Army Medical Corps officers on the train, in addition to conducting parties numbering seven officers and eighteen non-commissioned officers and men sent to Karachi under instructions from Army Headquarters, India, to accompany these troops?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answers to questions on Wednesday last.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that one of those Medical officers had had considerable experience of heat and sun stroke in West Africa, and does he not think that the statement that the train left Karachi without experienced officers cither medical or combatant, ought to be withdrawn?

I really must appeal to the House on this question. This is a question on a matter which resulted in loss of life to gallant British troops who were insufficiently looked after on a journey in hot weather in India. An inquiry has been held, and a conclusion formed on that inquiry. A repeated offer of a new inquiry to protect an officer who thought he had a grievance has been refused, and I can add nothing to the present statement.

Is it not a fact that the conduct of the general officer commanding at Karachi was never inquired into?

That question was explored on Wednesday last. If the gallant officer is dissatisfied with the inquiry, he has had for two years past the opportunity of a new one, and if he refuses to accept that offer I can do no more.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that this offer has not been refused, but I would ask how is it possible for this gallant officer to get witnesses from England to India?

The inquiry which has been offered is an inquiry in the ordinary course of military procedure. The occurrences were in India, and in accordance with every precedent it is in India that the inquiry must be held. He has been offered expenses and pay and carriage backward and forward.

I repeat my question, how is it possible for him to get witnesses from this country to India?

If there is any difficulty which has arisen on that subject that difficulty has only got to be presented, and we will do what we can in the matter.

Is not the obvious course to hold this inquiry in this country?

The hon. and gallant Member should raise this matter in Debate as it is impossible to deal with it further by question and answer.

asked the Secretary of State for India, considering that the Government of India has undertaken to give all facilities possible to accredited representatives of all shades of opinion to visit this country to give evidence before the Joint Select Committee on the Government of India Bill, and that he has undertaken that care will be taken that the views of the Governors of the provinces in India are represented before that Committee, if he will state who are to be the accredited representatives of the various provincial Governors in India to whom these facilities are to be given?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answers I gave him on the 9th July. The Committee will call for the evidence it requires.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Sir James Meston, in his evidence before the Committee, said he appeared to express the views of the Government of India; and cannot he tell me who are to appear to express the views of the provincial Governments in India?

I have already given the names of my colleagues on the Committee, and the names of representatives of local Governments who are here in this country. If they wish to call them, I presume they will. If my hon. and gallant Friend has any witnesses who he would suggest ought to be called, I shall have much pleasure in communicating with him.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Greeks burned the towns of Tepeleni and Leskoviki; and whether, in consequence, they are to receive these towns?

I have no information on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether those natives of Turkey who have suffered by reason of their allegiance or service to the cause of the Allies will be compensated?

I have nothing to add to the reply given to a similar question by the hon. and gallant Member on the 26th May.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the warning issued on 18th June, 1919, by General Smuts, in which he states that the only hope for Russia may be a purified Soviet system as opposed to Tsarism; whether he is aware of the distrust of our present Russian policy felt by large sections of the Allied populations; and whether, in view of the military-defeat of Koltchak and the signature of Peace with our principal enemy, he can hold out any hope of our policy towards Russia being reconsidered?

I have, of course, carefully studied the pronouncement of General Smuts. His Majesty's Government are aware that the policy adopted towards the Soviet Government of Russia has not met with universal approval; but, as regards the third part of the question, it must be pointed out that this policy is one which must be decided by the Allied and Associated Governments acting in concert.

Will the hon. Gentleman tell us what General Smuts said about Ireland, and will he consider the advisability of using this statement as a White Paper for the information of new Members of this Parliament?

May I ask whether there is any reason for supposing that General Smuts has any special knowledge of Russia, and, if not, why any attention should be paid to a purely hypothetical case by that gentleman?

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government have any knowledge of an economic treaty having been concluded between the German Government and the Russian Soviet Government; and whether, if such a treaty has been made, the Allied and Associated Governments have come to any decision as to what action is necessary to prevent the German Government exploiting the present situation in Russia in such a manner as to eventually form a military alliance which would greatly complicate the terms of the Peace Treaty?

His Majesty's Government have heard of the existence of such an agreement, but have no official knowledge on the subject. Should this information be confirmed, it will doubtless be taken into consideration by the Allied Governments in Paris.

Is he taking any steps to obtain a copy of this Treaty from the German Government; and, if not, will he take steps to do so?

We shall be glad to find out anything we can.

Is he taking steps to improve the means of getting information as to what is going on in Russia, as he seems to know very little from official-sources as to exactly what is going on?

Will he not say whether the present futile policy of the Government in Russia is not the chief cause which enables the Germans to exploit the Russian situation?

I do not think my Noble Friend would expect me to give a detailed answer to that question. In reply to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Chelsea (Sir S. Hoare), I shall be happy if my hon. Friend will assist me in getting information.

Can he say whether the policy of the Government is futile or not?

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government have any information in regard to the number of German officers and men who are now In Russia and engaged in the reorganisation and training of the forces of the Russian Soviet Government; and, in view of the need for a perfectly clear and defined policy being announced and adhered to in regard to Allied action in Russia and also in order to regulate and administer the supplies of food and material that have been promised to various anti-Bolshevik forces, he will consider the desirability of the establishment of a central Allied executive council who will have full powers, within definite limits, to take all necessary action to protect Allied interests in Russia and prevent Germany from becoming predominant in Russia and Siberia?

The answer to the first part of the hon. and gallant Member's question is in the negative. As regards the second part, I will give the suggestion my careful consideration.

Will the hon. Gentleman consider the sending of a Commission to Russia to find out the facts?

There is very grave difficulty attaching to the sending of a Commission to Russia.

Can the hon. Gentleman inform us what are the Allied interests in Russia?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the prospective scarcity in the milk supply, he is prepared to make a statement as to winter milk prices?

asked the Food Controller whether it is proposed to continue the control of milk prices through the winter; and, if so, whether he can make an early statement on the subject?

I have already stated that, in view of the uncertainty of the supply, it has been decided to continue the control of milk prices throughout the winter. The question of the actual prices for the winter months is now receiving consideration, and a statement on the subject will be made as soon as possible.

Will that statement be made before the House adjourns?

There are so many uncertainties about it, that I am not able to pledge myself for the moment.

Will the South-Western counties be considered once again?

I am called upon to review that case nearly every day.

I am very glad to hear it.

Will the hon. Gentleman make a statement as soon as possible?

I am sure my hon. and gallant Friend will realise the necessity for investigating every aspect of the question. There are various uncertain factors for the moment—probable price of hay and other feeding-stuffs—and I am unable at the present time to fix the price accordingly.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the rise in the cost of feeding-stuffs and the shortage of this year's hap crop, he can make an early announcement as to meat prices which may safeguard the production of meat through the coming winter?

asked the Food Controller whether it is proposed to continue the control of meat prices during the winter of 1919–20; and, if so, whether he can make an announcement on the matter?

I have already stated that it has been decided to continue the control of meat prices throughout the winter months. The scale of prices is under consideration, and an announcement on the subject will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agri- culture on what grounds it has been decided to defer payment of compensation due for losses incurred in 1918 through grass land being ploughed up by order of the authorities till after this year's harvest?

The Board have come to no such decision as is suggested by ray hon. Friend. In certain cases where there is evidence that loss incurred on the cultivation in 1918 may be expected to be wholly or partly recouped in 1919, it has been suggested to the claimant that he should allow his claim to stand over, but he is under no obligation to do so.