§ 61. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that in the districts of Twickenham and Richmond, in the South-West of London, there is a scarcity of matches, and that the firms who had the supply in 1915 decline to share their supplies with the smaller tobacconist shops; and whether he will cause arrange- 818 ments to be made to prevent the small shopkeepers being damaged in their business by this conduct?
§ 62. Sir G. GREENWOODasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the inconvenience caused by the shortage of matches in London; and if he will take steps whereby the deficiency may be supplied?
§ Mr. WARDLEThe available supplies of matches are being distributed regularly on a basis which is considered to be adequate to prevent any hardship to the public. Deliveries into the London district since the beginning of the year have averaged 4,000,000 boxes per week. Special steps have already been taken with regard to those districts on the outskirts of London and elsewhere where-there has been a temporary or abnormal increase in the population It has been made clear to wholesale dealers that a due proportion of the quantity allotted to them must be supplied to those small dealers who drew their supplies from them in the basic year—1915—but I will have the particular instances referred to investigated.
§ Mr. ROWLANDSIs the supply being fairly distributed, and will the hon. Gentleman get an accurate estimate of the population, taking into consideration the large camps that are brought into districts such as Kent, and the munition workers?
§ Mr. WARDLEWe take care to get an accurate estimate of the population.
§ Mr. PRINGLEHas the hon. Gentleman had his attention called to the fact that some of the large stores will not sell single boxes, but will only sell matches by the gross?
§ Mr. WARDLEI was not aware of that. My attention had not been called to it. The small retailers have to sell them in boxes.