HC Deb 13 May 1924 vol 173 cc1162-3W
Mr. J. HARRIS

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now satisfied that the alleged investment of exceptional safety and merit in freehold land in the district of Canberra, advertised on Form R/253, is worded in a misleading form in that freehold titles to land in the proposed city and district of Canberra are unobtainable; and whether he is now prepared to stop all further issues of Form R/253 containing this advertisement?

Mr. GRAHAM

While I feel bound to adhere to the view that the Government cannot, any more than other parties receiving advertisements, make itself responsible for the accuracy of the advertisements it displays, I have nevertheless made personal inquiry into this case, and so far no evidence of misrepresentation, either in the advertisement or in the full information supplied to inquirers by the advertiser, has been brought to my notice. In these circumstances, I can see no ground for breaking the advertisement contract, but I am quite prepared to reconsider the matter should the Commonwealth authorities represent that the continuance, of this advertisement is undesirable.