§ 16. Captain W. T. Shawasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that a large number of tobacco packets are found, upon being weighed, not to contain the weight of tobacco specified; and if he will take measures to see that tobacco packers give the public the full weight.
§ Mr. DaltonNo, Sir. Although the restriction on wrappings increases the risk of evaporation, very few complaints of short weight have been received.
§ Captain ShawIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that investigations in my constituency show that on the average there is a shortage of 3 drachms on every ounce packet and that one firm alone packs over 30,000 ounce packets per day? If these average 3 drachms short, it represents 90,000 drachms or about 3 cwts. of tobacco—enough to supply 5,625 ounce packets. Does the Minister not think, as the price of tobacco is mostly due to duty, the Government have a special responsibility to see that the proper weight is given?
§ Mr. DaltonI would like to check over all that arithmetic when I read it in the OFFICIAL REPORT to-morrow.