§ Mr. ANDERSONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the advance in prices of shipping shares on the Stock Exchange; whether he is aware that Furness, Withy shares have advanced from a pre-war price 327W of 25s. 6d. to 54s. at the present time, and that the Prince Line shares have advanced similarly from 21s. to 120s.; and whether, in the public interest and with a view to avoiding speculative financial transactions at the present time, he will say what action he proposes to take?
Mr. HARCOURTI am aware that Fur-ness. Withy and Company's ordinary-shares have risen as stated, and that there has been an increase of price of Prince Line shares approximately as stated in the question. I do not consider that I can usefully take action with the object of preventing a rise of price in shipping companies' shares.