§ BARON de FORESTasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the consequences of the hire-purchase system, particularly among the poorer classes of the population; and whether he will consider the introduction of legislation making the sale of goods under that system illegal?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. McKenna)I do not think that it would be feasible to prohibit the sale of goods on the hire-purchase system. It is often a most convenient arrangement for people who have not been able to save money, and I understand that advantage is taken of it by purchasers of well-known literary works. The system, if harshly administered, may no doubt become oppressive to poor people, but few complaints have reached the police.
§ Mr. BOOTHIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the large colliery and iron companies use this system for the purchase of railway waggons?
§ Mr. McKENNAI was not aware of it. It is a very interesting fact.