§ 41. Sir COOPER RAWSONasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will recommend the Empire Marketing Board to include in their 2180 advertisements particulars of such fruits from our Dominions, Colonies and Protectorates as may be in season from time to time?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Ormsby-Gore)I am glad to be able to inform my hon. Friend that the Empire Marketing Board are adopting the course which he suggests in a series of advertisements which will now be appearing very shortly in the public Press. The series will include home and oversea produce.
§ 42. Sir C. RAWSONasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether it would be possible to publish in the advertisements of the Empire Marketing Board, for the better information of retailers, the names and addresses of the shippers of fruits and other perishable seasonable goods from overseas?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREIt is the present policy of the Empire Marketing Board to confine itself, in the main, to advertising of a general character and thus to provide a background against which individual Governments or firms can make known the particular products in which they are interested. I am, however, aware of the desire of many retailers for the detailed information to which my hon. Friend refers, and I am already exploring the best way of meeting their needs.
Viscountess ASTORWould it not be a good idea to have an Empire fruit stall for Empire fruit in the House of Commons?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not arise out of the question.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWhen the hon. Member is considering the question of the shippers' names being included, will he consult the Chambers of Commerce of Hull and Liverpool as well as the London Authority, as those are the three great ports?
§ Mr. KIRKWOODWhat about Glasgow?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe special Fruit Committee, on which there are members of the trade closely in touch with shipping interests, are consulted before any action is taken.