§ Mr. REMERasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he can give any information as to the representatives of the Empire Marketing Board who are visiting the public assistance committees and advising them of the necessity of central bulk purchases; by whoses instructions this advice is being given; and if he is aware of the disturbance to trade caused by these instructions and the extravagance and waste to which they will lead if carried out?
Mr. THOMASThree officers employed by the Empire Marketing Board are at present visiting local authorities with the sole purpose of promoting increase in their purchases of home and oversea Empire produce. They are instructed that the machinery of purchase adopted by local authorities is the concern of the authorities alone and that they are in no case to advocate one system in preference to another. Inquiries indicate that these instructions have been duly followed.