§ 81. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Home Secretary whether be is aware that 888 R. Purser, aged thirty-eight, with three children, carrying on a hairdresser's business in St. George's Road, S.E., is shortly being called up for service; whether the nearest hairdressers who will compete for his business are an Italian at 36, St. George's Road, a Belgian at 8, St. George's Road, a German at 91. London Road, an Italian at 3, Earl Street, a a German-Swiss at 49, Newington Butts, and a German widow, with a Russian Pole as manager, at 138a, Newington Causeway; whether five of these are of Army age; and what steps the Government is taking to render impossible the continuance of such injustice to English tradesmen?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir George Cave)It is the fact that Mr. R. Purser, who is a hairdresser, has been called up for military service. As regards the second and third parts of the question, the hon. Member's information is inaccurate. The persons whom he describes as a German, a German-Swiss, a German widow, and a Russian Pole, are respectively a Russian, the British-born wife of an Austrian, the British-born widow of a naturalised British subject, and a Dutchman. Of the men mentioned in the question three only and not five are of military age, and of these three, one, a Russian, has attested; the other two are an Italian and a Dutchman. I cannot compel these persons to abandon their businesses; but I am confident that the patriotic citizens of Walworth will see to it that Mr. Purser's business shall not suffer because he is serving his country.