§ MR. D. A. THOMAS (Merthyr Tydvil)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if his attention has been called to the fact that a leading firm of tinplate manufacturers in Llanelly have asked for the indulgence of their creditors, and that the operatives at the Crombwrla works of the firm have received 24 hours' notice to terminate contracts; (2) whether he is aware that severe depression has existed for some years past in the tin-plate industry of this country, caused by a heavy fall in the price of tin-plates, and that this fall has been stimulated by the system of protection to the producers and manufacturers of tin plates maintained in the United States of America; and (3) whether he will urge the Government to adopt measures for the relief of the immediate necessities of the case, and for assisting those engaged in tin-plate manufacture to tide over the present crisis, similar to those indicated in the Queen's Speech for the relief of depression in the West Indian Colonies caused by the action of some of the European States?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADEI am not aware of the position of the firm referred to in the first paragraph of the Question, but un- 1354 doubtedly a severe depression has of late years been felt in the tin-plate industry, partially attributable to the diminution of export to the United States. It is satisfactory, however, to find that the most recent returns both as regards employment and export show some improvement in the situation, and that the exports of tin and black plates to countries other than the United States have of late been rapidly increasing. No measures such as are indicated in the Question are contemplated.