asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that schoolboys in England co-operatively correspond in the name of their schools, with schoolboys in New-Zealand; that the boys of a New Zealand school have sent to an English school a case of toilet soap; that the soap arrived at a London dock, but cannot be delivered because of import restrictions; and whether he will consummate this gesture of friendship from New Zealand by making the soap available to these boys, or to what alternative use he proposes putting it.

The only case of which I am aware concerns the Senior Boys' School, Newton-le-Willows, and the necessary licence was sent to the school six weeks ago.

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman mean by his answer that an absolutely free gift requires an importation licence? Is he aware that the application form sent to the school contains questions that boys cannot answer, namely, who will pay the overseas supplier, the trade description of the goods, the value of the goods, the cost of the insurance and freight, and other questions of that kind? Should not these free gifts be given to these boys just in the same way as free gifts are given to other people?

They were not incapable of answering the questions because they sent the application in good form to the Department, and the licence was issued thereon.

Since when has soap been an acceptable gift in boys' schools?