Clause 1. — (Powers of the Board of Trade to Investigate Complaints and Take Proceedings).

Part of Orders of the Day — Profiteering Bill. – in the House of Commons at on 13 August 1919.

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Photo of Mr Gordon Hewart Mr Gordon Hewart , Leicester East

Undoubtedly, the provisions of the Bill do not govern the Preamble, and the terms of the Preamble do not govern the provisions of the Bill. My hon. Friend is aware that the change he is proposing is one of a very fundamental character. Whether one looks at the Preamble or the provisions of the Bill it is obvious that what is being dealt with is profiteering in articles being produced, handled, and distributed. The words of this Amendment would have the effect of making Clause I read: Subject to the provisions of this Act the Board of Trade shall have power in respect of any article or the rent of any shop to which this Act applies. The Act does not apply to the rent of any shop, and we should have a series of consequential Amendments dealing with the kind of shops and the amount of rents to which it is proposed to apply the Act. I submit that this Bill has already got a sufficiently difficult subject matter, and the Committee ought not at this stage to introduce the question as to the proper rents for business premises, and to introduce that subject into this measure would only complicate matters and delay the passage of the Bill.