HC Deb 20 March 1917 vol 91 cc1711-2
76. Mr. FLAVIN

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether a Select Committee of this House, consisting of fifteen Members, was appointed on 24th March, 1914, to inquire into and report on the question of short weights; whether after hearing evidence the Select Committee in their Report unanimously recommended that it should be made illegal to sell tea, coffee, and cocoa (in powder) in retail by any other system than by net weight; and whether the Food Controller will issue an Order or Regulation under the Defence of the Realm Act giving full effect to this unanimous finding and recommendation of the Select Committee?

Captain BATHURST

The recommendation referred to by the hon. Member was stated by the Committee themselves to be made in the full knowledge that it might in certain cases involve a change in price or a lowering of quality. As the price and quality of tea for general consumption has recently been fixed by agreement, the Food Controller does not propose at present to enforce a recommendation which would upset the arrangement made.

Mr. FLAVIN

Is not the unanimous recommendation of a Select Committee of this House that tea, coffee, and cocoa should be sold by no other system than by net weight going to be carried out by the Food Controller?

Captain BATHURST

I believe that a good many unanimous Reports of Select Committees of this House have not necessarily been immediately adopted. I may perhaps mention that two branches of the trade are by no means agreed upon this subject, and even the representatives of the co-operative movement differ from the view put forward by the hon. Member.

Mr. FLAVIN

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the brokers and wholesale buyers of tea in the London market buy all their tea by net weight, and moreover get an excess of from half a pound to a pound in each chest; and, that being so, why should they compel poor people to buy paper at 2s. 6d. per pound?

Captain BATHURST

I quite admit that there is a good deal to be said for this suggestion, but at the present time it is thought undesirable to change the system, especially as the bulk of the representatives of the trade are quite satisfied that it should continue.

Mr. DUNDAS WHITE

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the increasing practice of using for these packets double wrappers of paper and of tinfoil, and that the proportion of weight taken up by the wrappers is greatest in the case of the smaller packets?

Captain BATHURST

yes; and that matter is being very carefully watched. In the event of the package being increased in weight, steps will be taken to prevent such an alteration continuing. The interests of the consumer are being carefully watched in this matter, as has been repeatedly pointed out; but wherever the consumer purchases a package of tea which is represented as a pound but which includes the package, that fact is stated on the wrapper, and due allowance is made for it.

Mr. WHITE

Would the hon. Gentleman say whether he will protect the public by fixing a maximum weight for the wrapper?

Captain BATHURST

Yes, that has already been decided upon, and I can assure the hon. Member that any increase in the weight of the wrapper is not going to be permitted. It shall be at the minimum which existed before the War.

Mr. FLAVIN

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that many of the poor workers of this city, in buying four quarters of a pound of tea gross weight, only receive 14½ oz. of tea and l½ oz. of paper, and is that—after all, it is a public fraud—going to be permitted by the Food Controller?

Captain BATHURST

No; I am not aware of the fact alleged by the hon. Member, and, if he can show me any case in which the wrapper weighs more than 1 oz., immediate steps shall be taken to prevent any such thing.

Mr. FLAVIN

If the hon. Member will come with me to my locker, I will show him a wrapper and he can weigh it.