§ Dr. Kingasked the President of the Board of Trade why the recent sudden increases in the price of knitting wool and woollen goods has been permitted before any of the new wool purchased in Australia at the new enhanced prices can have been shipped to England and made into woollen goods.
Mr. H. WilsonControlled maximum prices of utility cloth have not yet been increased to reflect the higher prices fetched by this season's Australian wool clip. I understand that the recent increases in knitting wool prices, which are not at present controlled, were related to rises in raw wool prices which occurred before this season's auctions opened. The Central Price Regulation Committee are, however, considering whether it is advisable to reimpose control over the prices of knitting wool, and I hope to have their recommendation shortly. The question whether control should be reimposed over the prices of any other non-utility wool Goods will be considered in the course of22W a general review, which I have invited the Committee to undertake, of the position in regard to those consumer goods in the Board of Trade field which have been freed from price control.