§ 19. Mr. LEIF JONESasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he can state the total expenditure on posters and the displaying of them by the Empire Marketing Board for the year 1929; whether he has any evidence as to the advertising value of these posters; and whether he will take advice from the heads of private advertising firms who are not represented on the Empire Marketing Board?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for DOMINION AFFAIRS (Mr. J. H. Thomas)The total expenditure from the Empire Marketing Fund on posters and on their display during the financial year 1929 brought to account to date is £62,996 11s. 4d. In regard to the advertising value of these posters, I would refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to the right hon. Member for Sevenoaks on the 12th February last. In reply to the last part of the question, the Board are advised in this as in other publicity questions by a representative committee specially appointed for the purpose. I need hardly add, however, that they are always open to receive suggestions for the improvement of their work.
§ Mr. JONESDoes not the right hon. Gentleman realise that these posters are constantly diminishing in value as time goes on?
§ Mr. THOMASYes, and that is why we continually substitute them by others.
§ Mr. DAYCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the £62,000 spent on posters display has been spent only on displays in Great Britain or also on displays in the Colonies?
§ Mr. THOMASMainly in Great Britain.
§ Mr. SKELTONAre we right in thinking that the President of the Board of Education has been called in for purposes of display?
§ 21. Mr. LAMBERTasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs why, in an advertisement issued by the Empire Marketing Board exhorting Empire purchases and extolling Australian and New Zealand butter, Devonshire butter has been omitted; and, in view of the recognised quality of Devonshire butter, will he draw the attention of those responsible for the advertisements of the Empire Marketing Board to the desirability of giving equal prominence to home produce?
§ Mr. THOMASThe advertisement referred to by the right hon. Member is one of a series dealing in turn with selected commodities from various parts of the Empire, designed to illustrate the Empire Marketing Board's general theme of Empire buying. A special advertisement, dealing exclusively with various kinds of home produce, is due to appear in this series immediately.
§ Mr. LAMBERTWill the right hon. Gentleman impress on the Board that had it not been for the men from Devonshire, there would have been no Empire produce to advertise?
§ Mr. THOMASAnd perhaps to keep in mind also that there are such places as Derbyshire.
Mr. TINNEWill the right hon. Gentleman inform the Empire Marketing Board that the Irish Free State also produces butter?