§ 81. Mr. MORRELLasked whether any Order has yet been made, or is about to be made, to prohibit or restrict the importation of fruit; whether it is proposed to include West Indian bananas in such an Order; and whether, having regard to the fact that bananas have become in recent years an important article of food to large classes of people, he will make further inquiries into the matter before sanctioning any Order that would restrict their supply?
§ 86. Mr. SAMUEL ROBERTSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received a representation from a large number of traders in the city of Sheffield who are interested in West Indian bananas, and who are already suffering from restrictions incidental to the War, and who in the year 1914 supplied no less than 20,000,000 West Indian bananas to the city; and whether, considering that bananas are a wholesome and important article of food, especially to the working classes, he will exempt West Indian bananas from his proposed restrictions?
§ 89. Mr. LEWIS HASLAMasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in determining the question of the importation of fruit, he will consider the desira- 1363 bility of the continuance of the importation especially of West Indian bananas on account of their value as food for children and for the working classes generally; and whether he will also bear in mind the detrimental effect the prohibition of the import of bananas would have upon West Indian industry?
§ 90. Sir J. D. REESasked whether the prohibition or restriction of the imports of fruit are to apply to bananas from the West Indies?
Mr. RUNCIMANA Proclamation will be issued in a few days prohibiting the importation of foreign canned, bottled, dried, and preserved fruit except currants. Some restriction will, I fear, have also to be imposed shortly on the importation of fresh fruit with a view to securing more tonnage space. The exact nature of such restriction is still under consideration, but it will not in any case affect the Jamaica bananas or any other fruit really produced within the Empire.
§ Mr. WHITEHOUSEWill this restriction of the importation of fruit take place before brewing materials are restricted?
Mr. RUNCIMANUpon the latter point I shall be in a position to make a statement in the House to-morrow.