§ Mr. Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) why he refuses to allow the new Canadian postage stamps to be sold to dealers and collectors in this country, although this issue was made primarily for the purpose of raising funds for Canada's war effort, and although the Canadian Government actually sent a large supply of these stamps to their High Commissioner in London for sale here;
(2) why the British Treasury has allowed the importation of large quantities of Russian stamps specially cancelled for sale in this country at a time when they will not allow the High Commissioner for Canada to dispose of the stocks of Canadian stamps which the Canadian Government sent here?
§ Sir K. WoodLicences are not granted for the import of postage stamps for which payment has to be made in foreign exchange needed for essential war purposes. In particular, the supply of Canadian dollars put at our disposal by the great generosity of the Government of Canada must be reserved for purposes directly essential to the prosecution of the war, and I cannot allow it to be exhausted by purchases—even from the Government of Canada—of unnecessary articles. The consignments which reached London were sent, I understand, under pre-war standing orders, in ignorance of the need for an import licence. The import of a certain quantity of Russian stamps was licensed some months ago. Payment was made in sterling in such a way that the resources of foreign exchange available for essential needs were not diminished.