asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the price of bread is to be raised to 10d. a loaf in London on Monday next; and whether it is disproportionate to the real condition of the world's wheat market?

Mr. WEBB:

An announcement appeared in the Press last Friday that the Incorporated Society of Principal Wholesale and Retail Bakers had stated that the leading firms will not increase the price of bread at present; but that a meeting of the society will be held this week, when the question of increasing the price will be considered. I have no further information on the subject, and in the circumstances, the second part of the question does not arise. The matter will, however, be kept closely under observation.

In the announcement to which the right hon. Gentleman has just referred me, was there not the statement made that there will be a meeting on Wednesday of this week, when probably even a bigger increase will be announced than that at first contemplated, and will he fellow the example of the Canadian Government and take some steps in the matter, by way of investigation or otherwise?

Mr. WEBB:

I cannot say at present that there will be an investigation until we know a little more about the crops in the northern hemisphere. I mentioned in my answer that there would be a meeting on Wednesday, when the question will be considered. I should like to point out, however, that the price of bread has not been raised in London as regards a large part of the supply. It is only some bakers who have raised the price, and possibly after Wednesday, it will still be possible to make a distinction.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether political exigencies in the United States in regard to the Presidential election have anything to do with the rise in the price of wheat?

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that the rise in the price is entirely owing to the foreigner putting up the price of wheat against us?

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that people are entitled to do what they like with their own private property—

HON. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear!

Mr. THORNE:

Let me finish my sentence—as long as hon. Members opposite believe in the present individualist system? Answer that!

Mr. WEBB:

As regards the last supplementary question, I will not venture to go into that subject at such short notice. With regard to the previous question, I should like to say that, apparently, the cause of the recent advance in the wholesale price of wheat has been due, in the main, to the prospect of the Canadian harvest rather than of the harvest of the United States. In regard to the other questions, I can only say that the Government at present can do no more than keep the matter under observation, and I shall be very much surprised to learn that the Canadian Government have been able to do anything else. In conclusion, I would point out that the rise in the price of bread that has already taken place is not yet as much as the rise, which we fortunately got rid of, in 1922.

Is this a justification for the high prices?

Having regard to the possibility of just such another manipulation in the next harvest and the next harvest after that, is not the right hon. Gentleman desirous or even anxious to institute some kind of investigation, together with the Government of Canada, to avoid such possible exploitation of the harvest?

Several hon. Members rose—

This is becoming a debate