§ Captain CARR-GOMMasked the Minister of Munitions whether the price of carbide since this commodity has been 675W controlled by the Government has been fixed at £40 per ton; whether he is aware of the fact that the Acetylene Corporation of Great Britain, Limited, were able to keep the price at about £27 per ton to the consumer when they were allowed to import and handle their own supplies; and will he state who is now benefiting by the increased controlled price?
§ Sir W. EVANSAt no time has the price of carbide been fixed at £40 per ton. From 24th September, 1917, to 20th November, 1917, the controlled price was £25 per ton, and from that date to 31st December, 1917, it was increased to £45 per ton. Since 1st January, 1918, it has been reduced to £35 per ton. It is quite true that the Acetylene Corporation of Great Britain, Limited could at one time import from Canada and supply their consumers at £27 per ton, but this was before the heavy rise in freight. In order to meet national requirements it has been necessary to place large contracts in Norway, and the controlled rates were based on the average price per ton of the contracts then existing with a margin to protect against possible loss in transit.