11. Mr. PRESTONasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the Combine of Farriers and Iron Merchants, whose activities were reported on by the Farriery Sub-Committee, are now refusing to supply iron and nails to farriers who will not join their association; that as a consequence farriers, who must have their raw material, are being forced to join the association and, on joining, are ordered to at once advance their price 25 per cent. to the standard pool price; and what action he proposes to take to protect the consumer?
Sir H. HORNEI was not aware of the matters alleged in the question, except in so far as they appear in the report referred to by my hon. Friend. I 989 am advised that in the present state of the law it is not possible for the Board of Trade to take any action, but the question will not be lost sight of when legislation of a permanent nature dealing with monopolies and combinations is under consideration.
Mr. PRESTONHas the Board of Trade not pledged itself to do what they can to stop profiteering, and is there not here a primâ facie case of profiteering?
§ Sir R. HORNEThe question of profiteering is dealt with by the Central Profiteering Committee, but this raises a much larger question.
Mr. PRESTONIf I furnish the right hon. Gentleman with the particulars of this case will he take action in regard to it?
§ Sir R. HORNEI will promise to consider it.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs the free importation of nails allowed or is it still under licence?
§ Sir R. HORNEI do not think, speaking from memory, that there are any restrictions on the importation of nails.