§ Mr. LUNDONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government has taken control of the leather trade or to what extent have they done so; is he aware that the price of this commodity has gone up enormously; and, in view of the hardships which such prices inflict upon small traders and shoemakers, etc., will something be done in order to enable such people to acquire, at something approaching reasonable prices, stocks of leather which will enable them to pull through in such trying times?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe necessities of the British and Allied Armics have rendered it imperative that the Government should 693W take steps to acquire so much of the available leather as is of suitable quality and weight. There are, however, considerable quantities of the lighter descriptions of leather which are unsuitable for military requirements and are, therefore, available for civilian purposes.