HC Deb 18 February 1918 vol 103 cc451-2
6. Major NEWMAN

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps have been taken to secure that the paper diverted from commercial purposes under the Paper Restrictions Order has not been put to uses of less national importance than the trade of the country, such, for instance, as so-called comic papers and cheap novelettes?

Mr. WARDLE

The question of restriction of the uses to which paper may be applied is still under consideration. Steps have already been taken by means of priority certificates to ensure that available supplies should be allocated for purposes of national importance.

Major NEWMAN

Is it not a fact that if a cheap novelette is to be published, the publisher can go into the market and buy paper freely, whereas if a man wants to get paper for the purposes of advertising he cannot do it?

Mr. WARDLE

No, I do not think that is a fact.

Mr. BILLING

Have the Government yet decided what is a "comic paper," and are any of the present dailies included?