§ 26. Mr. H. WILLIAMS (for Duchess of ATHOLL)asked the President of the Board of Trade the average price at which butter has been imported from Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, the Netherlands, and the Soviet Union during the years 1929 to 1933, respectively, and the first three months of 1934?
§ Dr. BURGINAs the answer involves a table of figures, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the table :
§ whether his attention has been drawn to the proposals of the Panama Corporation, Canada, to its debenture holders; and will he allow a representative of his 913 Department to follow the proceedings so that the Board of Trade may be conversant with the proposals in order that he may, if necessary, take action for the protection of the unorganised and scattered United Kingdom debenture holders in the Panama Corporation, Canada?
Mr. THOMASI have no information other than what has appeared in the Press. The matter does not appear to be one in which His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom could, in any case, intervene.
§ Mr. WILMOTWill the right hon. Gentleman consider what steps can be taken to check the tendency of companies, of which this is an instance, evading their debenture holders by removing outside British jurisdiction?
Mr. THOMASI gather that this has something to do with what the hon. Gentleman and his friends would call the rentier class. I do not know anything about the matter.
§ Mr. WILMOTMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman, with all respect, whether the matter to which he refers is not one that properly falls within the purview of his Department?
Sir NAIRNE STEWART SANDEMANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that one of the men who were ejected from a meeting of this company is the hon. Member who put this question?