§ 40. Colonel ASHLEYasked whether, in view of the necessity of encouraging discharged men to settle down in civil life, he will grant additional facilities to those who may wish to set up a tobacco and matches business to obtain adequate supplies, even though they may not have been in the trade previous to the War or as late as the year 1916?
§ Mr. WARDLEarrangements have been been made for discharged soldiers who were in the tobacco trade before joining His Majesty's Forces to obtain their proportion of the supplies of the tobacco available. Owing, however, to the increasing demands of His Majesty's Forces, and the restricted imports of tobacco into the country, it is not possible even for existing retailers to obtain the same quantity of supplies as in 1916, and I regret that it is accordingly impossible to grant supplies to all discharged soldiers who desire to open new tobacco businesses. The quantity 2287 of matches available for distribution is even less in proportion than tobacco, and although every effort has been made to come to the assistance of individual cases, the same difficulties arise as in the case of tobacco.
§ Colonel ASHLEYI did not hear the reply distinctly. Will the hon. Gentleman give consideration to every case that comes up?
§ Mr. WARDLECertainly.