26 JUNE 1947, Page 5

The indefatigable Sir Waldron Smithers, who holds strong views on

the subject of bulk-purchase, has asked the President of the Board of Trade for a list of the commodities of which the Govern- ment are the sole importers. The list includes 76 items (if I have counted them right), some as comprehensive as "cereals and flour," "oils and fats," " steel " ; others as mystifying as "canned sild," " oiticica oil," "acetic anhydride." I am afraid the net result is to confirm Sir Waldron's worst fears.