§ MR. ASCROFT (Oldham)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the complaints of British manufacturers in respect to the refusal of the British Commission to grant them suitable space at the forthcoming Paris Exhibition; whether he is aware that, notwithstanding the fact that Messrs. James Stott and Co., of Oldham, the manufacturers of the patent gas governor, have received the highest awards made at all the International Exhibitions during the last 20 years, their application for space has been refused; and whether he will consider the advisability of suggesting to the Commission that the large employers of labour in this country should have every facility given to exhibit the articles manufactured by them at the Exhibition.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. RITCHIE,) CroydonNo, Sir, I have not had any such complaint before me. I have no doubt that the Royal Commissioners are doing the best they possibly can, having regard to the various demands which are made for space, to procure facilities for the exhibitors of this country.