26. Mr. De la Bèreasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, owing to shortage of newsprint, certain farming periodicals have had to reduce their circulation and, in view of the importance of food production and the great service that these papers render to the farming community, if he will take steps to increase the allocation of newsprint for these old established papers.
§ Mr. H. WilsonNo further reduction is at present contemplated in the consumption of paper by periodicals, but I am afraid it is not possible to allow any increase in the supply at this stage even for farming papers owing to the serious shortage of paper.
Mr. De la BèreIs the right hon. Gentleman aware how very desirable it is to encourage everyone to take an interest in the cultivation of the land? How is it possible to do so if we cannot get a wide circulation of responsible papers?
§ Mr. WilsonYes, I am aware of that, and in fact the farming papers, as well as other technical journals, did escape the last cut in paper supplies.