§ 32. Mr. C. Smithasked the Minister of Works which building materials have been reduced in price, and by how much, as a result of the discussions on distributors' margins following the publication of the report of the Committee on the Distribution of Building Materials; and which building materials have increased in price, and by how much, since the discussions on distributors' margins began.
§ Mr. KeyArising from these discussions, reductions ranging from 2 per cent. to 25 per cent. have been made in the prices of about 30 items of plumbing and builders' hardware. As regards the second part of the Question, I have found it necessary since last October to authorise an increase in the price of six classes of building materials which are subject to price control, but I am not aware of any cases where distributors have increased their margins.