asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in order to give more adequate time for woolgrowers to consider the matter, he will extend the final date for the receipt of applications for change of wool merchants beyond 30th April, 1948.

No, Sir. The date to which the hon. Member refers was announced by my Department on 8th April. This should give farmers ample time to consider whether or not they wish to apply.

When the Minister fixed this very short period, did he take into account the fact that it is the busiest time of the year for sheep farmers and that this is a quite inadequate time for them to make up their minds?

Yes. The time was fixed with our eyes wide open, since we did not want such a long period between the date of the announcement and the ultimate date so that some merchants or agents could canvass for the purpose of drawing away customers by offering bonuses or by other means.

Am I to understand that the Minister does not intend to make the freedom of choice a real freedom?

No, the Ministry was trying to give every person an adequate opportunity either to change or to stay put, as desired.