§ Sir J. NALLasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that certain grades of tea, previously retailed at 3s. per lb. and reduced to 2s. 8d. after the Budget, have since been raised to 2s. 10d., labels with all three prices being stuck one over the other on the packets; and whether this increase in retail price is due to any change in world prices?
Mr. ALEXANDERI am informed that some of the firms which prepare tea in packets for retail sale have recently increased the prices of such teas. The reported results of the sales of tea in London by auction show that the prices realised for Indian teas in recent weeks have been higher than those obtained in1534W the early part of May by about a penny per lb., while for Ceylon teas a reduction of about a penny per lb. is shown in the same period.