§ 7. Major C. S. Taylorasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now grant a licence to Strange, The Printer, Limited, of Eastbourne, for the purchase of a new punching machine, as it has been ascertained that a new machine is available and lying idle at the makers and as their present machine is over 30 years old and not sufficiently accurate to carry out corporation contracts on which they are engaged?
§ Mr. DaltonNo. Sir. I am informed that there is sufficient punching machinery in Eastbourne to undertake the work required by the Corporation, and the machine now in the hands of the makers should, therefore, be used to meet some more urgent need.
§ Major TaylorWould the right hon. Gentleman consider lending this firm this new machine until it is required for more urgent purposes? Otherwise they will not be in a position to carry on their business.
§ Mr. DaltonThe hon. and gallant Gentleman has already been in touch with my hon. and gallant Friend the Parliamentary Secretary on this matter. There is a good deal of evidence in favour of having the machine used somewhere else where it is more urgently needed, but if the hon. and gallant Gentleman cares to speak to me further about the matter, I shall be very glad. The case, however, is not very strong.