Mrs. Hill:I beg to ask leave to present a Petition from the housewives represented by the National Federation of Housewives' Associations signed by 138,314 housewives and other persons living in all parts of the United Kingdom. The petitioners complain of the shortage of meat, which, they say, is causing great hardship throughout the land. They say they are receiving barely enough meat to maintain strength to work and enjoy their leisure.
The Petition concludes with the following Prayer:
Wherefore your petitioners pray that the present system whereby meat is purchased in bulk by the Government may be abolished, and that the meat trade may be allowed to undertake the purchase of supplies of meat for distribution to the public as in former days; and your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
§ To lie upon the Table.