§ Colonel WEIGALLasked the President of the Board of Trade whether it was with his authority that Messrs. S. W. Smedley and Company published an advertisement threatening Evesham growers that their stocks of fruit would be commandeered unless they agreed to make contracts with this firm; whether this firm is authorised to describe itself as official buyer for the Government of fruit; for what reason the prices fixed for fruit are so much in excess of the ordinary market price; whether he is aware of the effect that this will have upon the price of fresh fruit and jam during the coming summer; and by what authority was the price of gooseberries fixed at £20 a ton, seeing that the Army Canteen Committee has already made considerable forward contracts for the supply of gooseberries to the troops at prices varying between £12 and £14 a ton?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe advertisement in question had no official sanction and has been withdrawn.