§ 21. Mr. CAPEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the recommendation of the Indian and Ceylon Tea Association that production be curtailed so that there may be a recovery in prices; and whether he will recommend that a commission be appointed to inquire into the various efforts which are being made by owners to restrict output?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of FOOD (Sir W. Mitchell-Thomson)I have been asked to reply. The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. For some time past large quantities of Indian and Ceylon tea have been sold at prices considerably below the cost of production, owing to the serious decrease in the demand for tea from Russia and other Continental countries. The Food Controller does not consider at present that it is necessary to adopt the course indicated in the last, part of the question.