§ 5. Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the investigation, on behalf of the Canadian Government, into the operations of the Proprietary Articles Trade Association in Canada and to the Report of the Commis- 2064 sioner to the effect that the association is an organisation which has operated, and is likely to operate, to the detriment of and against the interests of the public; and whether he proposes to conduct a similar investigation into the operations of the association in this country?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; the answer to the second part in the negative. The fixing of retail prices through the Proprietary Articles Trade Association and otherwise was inquired into by a Committee appointed under the Profiteering Act.
§ Mr. ALEXANDERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that since then the operations have been extended and the principle is now applied by the Association to scores of articles, to the great detriment of the consuming community?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERNo, Sir. The hon. Member, who has been at the Board of Trade, will remember that the whole position was inquired into by a Committee under the Profiteering Act, and a very comprehensive Report was presented.
§ Mr. MACKINDERWill the right hon. Gentleman tell us what became of that Report? Was it shelved, like all the profiteering reports?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERNo it was not. It recommended that nothing should be done.
§ Mr. ALEXANDERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a very important addendum to that Report, which was signed by Mr. John Hill, of the Ministry of Labour, covered the malpractices of the Association?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERIf I remember correctly, seven to one were in favour of the Report.