§ COLONEL HOWARD VINCENTI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, if he can state how many meetings the Committee appointed by the late Government to inquire into the importation of prison made goods has held, how many witnesses it has examined, and what it has done since the resignation, three months ago, of the two Members who refused to be a party to further delay; if he will undertake that no avoidable delay shall take place in giving effect to the unanimous Resolution of the House of Commons on 19th February last, declaring it to be incumbent upon the Government at once to take steps to restrict such imports; and, if he has already taken, in conjunction with the Prime Minister, any steps, or proposes to take any, to bring about a reduction in. the traffic, or in the meantime to mitigate the injury done to British trade and labour by the competition in British markets of foreign convicts.
§ MR. RITCHIEThe Committee on the importation of foreign prison-made goods have, since the resignation of the hon. and gallant Member, and of Colonel Bridgman, held five public meetings, at which 12 new witnesses were examined and one former witness further examined. The number of questions to witnesses put and answered at these meetings was 1,346. The Committee have subsequently been engaged in the preparation of their Report, and the Chairman hopes to be able to place it in my hands before the end of the Session.
§ MR. J. H. DALZIEL (Kirkcaldy Burghs)asked, whether the House would have an opportunity afforded them of seeing the correspondence which had passed between the Foreign Office and the countries in question.
§ MR. RITCHIEI will consider that point.
§ * MR. J. C. FLYNN (Cork, N.)asked whether the goods referred to were imported in any considerable quantities.
§ COLONEL HOWARD VINCENTYes.
§ MR. RITCHIENo doubt when we get the Report we shall see the quantities which are imported, but I gather that, whatever may be the quantity, the House of Commons is opposed to the principle. [Cheers.]