§ 31. Mr. Iremongerasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to advertisements by companies guaranteeing rapid and large returns to small savers who invest in breeding chinchillas; and if he will institute an enquiry into the activities of these advertisers with special reference, firstly, to the methods of grading chinchilla fur recognised by the fur trade, as compared with the methods envisaged by advertisers who are not members of the British Fur Breeders' Association and, secondly, to the state of the market for breeding chinchillas and for pelts.
§ Sir D. EcclesI have just received copies of these advertisements and it will take a little time to consider them.
§ Mr. IremongerWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him whether he will consider some means by which the resources of his Department could be brought to bear on what, in the case of some of these get-rich-quick advertisements, might prove on investigation to contain an element of fraud?
§ Sir D. EcclesI have only just received these advertisements, and as far as I can see on preliminary investigation the question turns on whether it is true to say that these hardy vegetarian rodents are prolific breeders or not.