§ MR. HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, If the attention of Her Majesty's Government has been directed to the proceedings at a meeting of the gun trade, held in Birmingham on the 1st of May, whereat it was stated that that industry was in a condition of extreme depression; and, if any steps have been taken, or are in contemplation, to carry out the recommendations 1486 of the Royal Commissioners appointed in 1885 to inquire into the depression of trade, and more particularly with reference to the foreign tariffs and bounties, which were unanimously denounced by the Commission as very prejudicially limiting the markets for the production of British industry?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)The attention of Her Majesty's Government has not been drawn to the proceedings at a meeting of the gun trade at Birmingham; but I have no doubt that that trade, in common, I regret to say, with many others, has been passing through a period of depression. I am glad to state, however, that there are clear signs of a revival of trade; and the number of men out of employment this year will compare favourably to those of last year and of the preceding one. Under these circumstances, I think we must look to trade being revived, not by the adoption of the heroic measures suggested by my hon. Friend, but by the renewal of confidence in the stability of the institutions of the country and the maintenance of the peace of the world.