§ 65. Colonel DAYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the practice by retailers of coke of watering the coke in order to increase the weight; and will he consider the advisability of legislation with a view to stopping this practice?
Mr. SAMUELI am aware that complaints as to short deliveries of coke have been made from time to time. Some local authorities have taken powers by local acts to deal with the sale of coke with a view to the prevention of fraud. The matter is being carefully watched in case any general action should prove to be necessary and practicable.
§ Colonel DAYIs the hon. Gentleman aware that some of the coke is delivered in bags containing only between 84 lbs. and 90 lbs. instead of 112 lbs., and is he not prepared to protect the poor people who buy it?
Mr. SAMUELI am very sorry to hear that. Practices of that kind will not be tolerated for a moment, and if the hon. Gentleman opposite will give me any specific cases where they have occurred, I will make it my special duty to go into them.
Mr. BECKETTWill the hon. Gentleman also consider whether, in order to carry that reply into effect, local authorities ought not to be given the power to distribute coke without having to incur the expense of first coming to this House for powers?