§ Sir R. Clarryasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the practice of raising money for war savings through auctions of luxury commodities, including whisky and certain fruits, at grossly extravagant prices, which is an unfair and unnecessary inducement to war savings investment; and, as these transactions are numerous, what steps he contemplates to discourage the practice?
§ Sir K. WoodI am informed that there have been cases in which auctions of the kind to which my hon. Friend refers have been held. The practice is definitely against the official policy of the National Savings Committee and is contrary to advice which they have given more than once to the local organisers of war savings campaigns. I understand that the Committee will issue a further statement emphasising the objections to this practice.