HC Deb 14 November 1912 vol 43 cc2126-7W
Mr. C. BATHURST

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that several advertisements of quack medicines and appliances, which are condemned by the veterinary profession, appear regularly in the Board's Journal; and whether, in the interests of farmers, who regard such remedies as having the imprimatur of the Board, as well as of the said profession, he will cause such advertisements to be discontinued?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

All arrangements with regard to the publication of advertisements in the Board's Journal are in the hands of the advertisement agent, subject to the right of the Board to reject any advertisements which they may consider objectionable. I think that readers of the Journal generally understand that the Board accept no responsibility for statements made in the advertisements, and I have no reason to suppose that they are less competent than other people to estimate the value of such statements. But I will consider the advisability of inserting a definite disclaimer of responsibility on behalf of the Board in future issues of the Journal. It would, in my opinion, detract from the usefulness of the Journal to exclude advertisements altogether.