HC Deb 14 August 1919 vol 119 cc1697-8

Whereas it appears that the prices of articles are, to the detriment of the people, being enhanced in some cases by the charging of prices yielding an unreasonable profit to the persons engaged in the production, handling, or distribution thereof:

Be it therefore enacted by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

Mr. SPEAKER

The Amendment—In the Preamble, after- the word "of" ["Whereas it appears that the prices of articles"], to insert the words "land, minerals, and"—of the hon. and gallant Member for Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy) goes beyond the scope of the Bill.

Lieut. Commander KENWORTHY

Do I understand that the profiteering which is in the title of this Bill applies only to articles on sale in shops and not to land, minerals, and monopolies?

Mr. SPEAKER

That is so. If the hon. Member will read the Bill and gather the general purpose of it he will see that it does not apply. The Amendment—In the Preamble, after the word "profit," to insert the words "or wage"—standing in the name of the hon. Member for Reigate (Brigadier-General Cockerill) is unnecessary. The next Amendment—In the Preamble, after the word "the"["engaged in the production"], to insert the word "sale"—is also unnecessary. The sale is included in the distribution.