§ MR. DALY (Monaghan, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that at a recent meeting of the linen merchants of Belfast disappointment was expressed because the Government would not take linen khaki for the making of soldiers' clothing, and that linen is only one farthing per yard more than cotton khaki, although linen wears three times as long as cotton; and whether he will see that Irish linen gets the preference from this time forward for making soldiers' uniforms.
§ *MR. WILLIAM JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)May I ask the Government to take this matter into their most favourable consideration, as it is one which excites great interest in Belfast?
LORD STANLEYThe attention of the Secretary of State has been drawn to this matter. The preference for cotton over linen khaki is due not only to the fact that the latter is more expensive, but also colder and less absorbent than the former. In view of the recent adoption of woollen drab serge for the service dress of the Army, it is very improbable that any large quantity of either cotton or linen khaki will be required hereafter by the War Department.
§ MR. DALYIs it a fact that if Irish linen were used in the manufacture of soldiers' uniforms the constituents of the First Lord of the Treasury at Manchester would suffer?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!