§ 89. Mr. E. WOODasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether his attention has been called to the inequitable distribution of disposal business with regard to surplus Government property among those auctioneers qualified to undertake it; and if he will say for what reason the firm of Messrs. Morgan, Short and Company, of Harrogate, a town endowed with excellent train and other facilities, has so far been denied a share in this business, in spite of repeated applications?
Mr. HOPEI cannot admit the assumption in the first part of the question. Special care has been taken by the Disposal Board to obtain accurate information through the Auctioneers' Institute, and otherwise, as to the qualifications of auctioneers throughout the country; but it is necessary for the Board to rely on their Controllers for the selection of the firms best qualified to dispose of particular classes of material. I can assure my hon. Friend that the firm of Messrs. Morgan, Short and Company, of Harrogate, will not be forgotten if a suitable opportunity for their employment presents itself.