Army cheat us on price say farmers
Court hears claim over requisitioned hay
A dispute over the price paid by the military for hay requisitioned from farms was subject of a case at Stirling Sheriff Court.
It was brought against the Government by Mr AC Buchanan, solicitor, and tenant of a farm at Whitehouse, Stirling.
Sheriff Dean Leslie was told how in December, 1915, the military authorities had requisition 72 tons of hay for delivery in the last week of January, 1916, and the first week of February. The Government price for January was £5 and five shillings per ton and in February it was £5 and 10 shillings per ton.
However, Mr Buchanan had claimed at that time the fair market price “between a willing buyer and a willing seller” was £7 per ton.
The sheriff ruled the market price at the time of delivery was in excess of the £7 per ton claimed. He set the price at £7 per ton and awarded the farmer five guineas in expenses.
Mr Buchanan was not the only farmer angered by the prices being imposed on them by the Government.
Elsewhere in the Observer of 100 years ago this week, the paper told how Mr John Campbell, of Starr Farm, Cupar, Fife, had contacted the Prime Minister, Herbert Asquith, MP for East Fife, about the price of hay commandeered by the military.
He wrote: “The military authorities at Stirling are trying to force me and other farmers to accept £5 five shillings a ton for hay when the market price is from £7 10 shillings to £9 per ton.
“I had offers from private parties and could not sell because of Government requirements .
“Surely, I am not to suffer an injustice like this.”
Mr Campbell estimated that his loss on the 51 tons of hay requisitioned would be more than £100, and he told Mr Asquith: “It is an injustice to farmers considering the tremendous rise that has taken place in all feeding stuffs.”
However, Mr Asquith was unmoved by the plea from one his constituents.
He wrote: “After careful investigation, I cannot see my way to interfere.”
Other MPs had agreed to take the matter up with the War Office.