§ 66. Mr. LUNDONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the reason why the Sugar Commission refuse to give the number of cargoes of sugar given to Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Waterford, and Limerick, respectively, up to the 1st of November; is he aware that a feeling exists in some plaecs in Ireland that the distribution of sugar is not evenly dealt with; and, in order to clear the atmosphere, will the numbers of cargoes Allotted to each of the above cities be given?
§ Mr. McKENNAI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for West Limerick on the 21st November. I then explaind why it was impossible to give the information asked for.
§ 69. Mr. TICKLERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been called to the dissatisfaction of the public regarding the distribution of sugar, and if he proposes to issue any further Regulations to control and give a more equal distribution so that all may be able to secure a regular supply in proportion to their needs?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am not unaware of the existence of some feeling of dissatisfaction in regard to the distribution of sugar, and I shall be prepared to offer to the proposed Food Controller whatever assistance the Sugar Commission can afford to him towards improving the condition of things.
§ Mr. TICKLERMy question was with regard to the retailer.
§ Mr. McKENNAI also had reference to the retailer in my answer.
§ 107. Major HUNTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet found out that the Dutch firm, Anton Jurgens United (Margarine) Works, declared themselves to be the holders of all the shares of six companies in Germany; that the retailers of Jurgens United (Margarine) Works are allowed to sell sugar in this country; and that, by the regulations of the Sugar Commission, the largest firm of margarine makers in this country, the Maypole Dairy Company, are not allowed to sell sugar; and whether, in view of this handicap to the British industry, he proposes to take any, and, if any, what steps to remedy this hardship?
§ Mr. McKENNAMy right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. My only information with regard to the first part of the question is contained in a circular issued by the Maypole Dairy Company and forwarded to me by the hon. Member. As regards the second and third parts, I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member on the 1st November except to repeat that, so far as I am aware, no Dutch margarine manufacturer sells sugar retail in this country.
§ Major HUNTDoes the right hon. Gentleman deny that this Dutch firm's margarine is sold by retailers in this country? Does he deny that? And does he deny that they sell sugar in this country?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am not quite aware to whom the personal pronoun relates. If the hon. Gentleman means that the Dutch firm sell sugar here by retail, I can answer him that so far as I am aware they do not; but if he means that certain retailers sell both Dutch margarine and sugar, I believe that they do.
§ Major HUNTWhy are the retailers of the British Maypole firm not allowed to do the same? That is what I want to know.
§ Mr. McKENNABecause the British retailers to the Maypole Dairy Company did not sell sugar before 1915. There are other retailers who sell margarine, whether Dutch or British, who did sell sugar in 1915, and the sale of sugar is limited to those firms who sold it in that year.
§ Major HUNTIs the right hon. Gentleman going to allow this to go on? The retailers of the British manufacture are not allowed to sell sugar, and the retailers of the Dutch firm connected with the German firm are.
§ Mr. McKENNAIf the manufacturers I of British margarine will allow their mar- garine to be retailed by firms who have the right to sell sugar, there is no objection.
§ Major HUNTCan the right hon. Gentleman—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member had better study the answers which have already been given.