§ 60. Mr. W. THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a firm, named H. J. Webb, has recently been offering Government imported lambs, subject to the condition that the purchaser also acquired at the same time a quantity of lambs imported by the American Beef Trust; that such an offer was made to one Kingston, a butcher of Balham, who, requiring the goods, was compelled to accept the conditions; that similar charges are made against other firms handling Government lambs; that the Americans have run lambs up to unprecedented prices; and that consequently the selling agents of the Government are using their control of Government imported goods to force the sale of American goods at monopoly values; and whether he will have every selling agent's books inspected to see how many of these forced sales have been effected?
Mr. ROBERTSAn order made by the Food Controller on the 21st March last expressly forbids anyone selling an article of food to impose or attempt to impose a condition relating to the purchase of any other article except under the authority of the Food Controller. I will make inquiry into the case to which my hon. Friend refers and also into any other in which the sale of Government meat is involved, provided that particulars are furnished to the Board of Trade.