57. Mr. H. D. Hughesasked the Minister of Agriculture if he will consider setting up a committee to inquire into the practice of the Association of Nursery Gardeners of issuing price lists for a wide variety of trees and plants, with a view to restoring competition in this trade.
Mr. T. WilliamsI have seen these price lists which are issued annually by the Horticultural Trades' Association to its members. The prices are described as recommended values for first quality 171W stocks and I understand that their adoption is purely voluntary so far as members of the Association are concerned. I do not think that the arrangement is one to which exception can reasonably be taken, or that there is any need for a committee to inquire into it.