34. Mr. G ILBERTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the shortage of matches amongst retail shopkeepers in London, and if he will state what Orders or Regulations his Department have made as regards the present supply of matches by manufacturers to ordinary retailers; are they allowed a full supply on their previous year's trade or only a percentage of previous supplies; and, if so, will he state what the percentage is?
§ Mr. WARDLEI am aware of the situation to which the hon. Member calls attention. The entire supplies of matches are pooled, and an administrative committee of manufacturers, acting under the instructions of the Control Board, is charged with their distribution to wholesalers at the rate of approximately 50 per cent. of each firm's total purchases last year. Owing to the fact that previously the matches used in London districts were mainly imported, some little time is required to make completely effective in all areas the organisation for distributing the British-made matches which alone are now available.