31 MAY 1946, Page 4

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade said on

Monday that, owing to the shortage of the raw materials needed, the pro- duction of pianos is at present reserved for export only. In other words, peace at home and discord abroad—on the whole quite a satisfactory arrangement. The same Minister, incidentally, answer- ing a question on the short supplies of carnauba, candililla and ouri curi, refused obdurately to enlighten tly,t House on the nature of these mysterious commodities. Though dictionaries are silent on such subjects, I have acquired knowledge in other quarters. The perplexing articles are ingredients in boot-polish. The question regarding them was put by one of the Members for Norwich, where they are a good deal given to manipulating leather.