MR. MAC IVERsaid, he had been intrusted with a Petition to present from Bradford of a somewhat remarkable character. It was, in the main, a workmen's Petition; but it represented alike the demand of the employer and of those who wished for work and wages, but which they said were denied them by the pressure of unfair foreign competition with those industries on which the prosperity of Yorkshire depended. He was told that the Petition was nearly 250 yards long, and bore about 21,000 signatures, and that it had been signed in the streets of Bradford by persons of every shade of political opinion. He trusted the House would not turn a deaf ear to the cry for justice, which those who sent the Petition asked him to raise, humbly and respectfully, on their behalf. They saw no reason why French looms should be at work while theirs stood idle; and they asked that honourable House to renew no Treaty with France which allowed France to tax our manufactures, while we received theirs duty free to the displacement of our own industries.
§ MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member must be quite aware that he is not entitled to debate a Petition.
MR. MAC IVERsaid, he did not wish to debate anything, but merely to urge the Prayer of the Petition. The Petitioners asked for equal treatment—for fair play. They saw no reason why the working men of France should receive the wages which ought to be spent in this country. They asked, therefore, that no Commercial Treaty with France should be entered into which had not been submitted for the approval and consent of that House; and, further, that no engagement should be entered into which should bind the country for more than 12 months, without an opportunity being afforded of retiring from such engagement if they found it did not suit them. He had no desire or right to enter into matters of argument. There was much, however, that he could wish to say——[Cries of "Order!"]
§ MR. SPEAKERI must call on the hon. Member to confine himself to the Prayer of the Petition.
MR. MAC IVER said,he most heartily and cordially concurred in the Prayer of the Petition. The day had come when that House could no longer turn a deaf ear to the working population of these lands, or look on coldly while each industry was in turn destroyed. Why had not the people of Bradford intrusted the Petition to the hon. Member opposite (Mr. Illingworth)? Because they wished to protest emphatically against such views as his, and because they no longer believed that a system of free imports and of restricted exports was entitled to be called Free Trade.
§ MR. CHILDERSI rise to Order, Sir. A Petition cannot contain a protest.
§ MR. SPEAKERI have already called to the hon. Member's attention twice the fact that he is not in Order.
MR. MAC IVERsaid, he begged humbly and respectfully to ask that the Petition be read by the Clerk at the Table.
§ Petition read; and ordered to lie upon the Table.