§ 82. Mr. WINGasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Sugar Commission can make some arrangement whereby the Blind Tea Agency, whose business is entirely with blind persons who sell tea for a livelihood, can have a share of sugar, as their inability to obtain sugar in any quantity handicaps the blind seller of tea?
Captain BATHURSTIn order to retain the trade in its usual channels the Sugar Commission has provided that the restricted supplies of sugar now available shall be divided amongst those traders who dealt in the article in 1915. I am informed that the agency referred to in the 1598 question has not in the past sold sugar, and I regret that I cannot hold out hopes of their being granted supplies.
§ Mr. WINGWill the hon. Gentleman take into consideration the position of so many blind men making a respectable living; would it not be wise to make at least some effort or devise some means whereby they can get as fair a share as their competitors?
Captain BATHURSTI have every sympathy with this particular enterprise and similar enterprises, but it is quite impossible to discriminate between one sort of enterprise and another; and there would be simply no limit to the exceptions made if such a course were adopted.