96. Mr. HAZLETONasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the imports of fresh flowers for the first six months of this year from abroad reached a value of £158,000; whether there is any restriction on such imports; and whether he will take steps to provide for the cargo space devoted to this purpose being better employed?
§ Mr. PRETYMANPractically the whole of our imports of fresh flowers are received from the Channel Islands and France, and I do not think it necessary to restrict their importation.
§ Mr. PRETYMANA prohibition on the importation of all foreign canned, bottled, dried and preserved fruit (except currants) was imposed by a Proclamation dated 10th March, and licences thereunder have been granted for the importation during the present season of a quantity of such fruit equal to 50 per cent. of the imports in 1915. There is no prohibition of the importation of fresh fruit.