§ MR. FIELDI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Government will consider the urgency of the situation arising from the corner in cotton, and introduce legislation to prohibit gambling in futures, options, and warrants in produce and stock exchanges, or give facilities for the discussion of a Bill with this object if introduced by a private Member.
§ * THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. AKERS-DOUGLAS, Kent, St. Augustine's)—(for Mr. A. J. Balfour)I am afraid the situation—undoubtedly a mostanxiousone—will hardly be amended by legislation of the character suggested by the hon. Members; and though I heartily sympathise with the object the hon. Member has in view, I fear that, as at present advised, my reply to his Question must be in the negative. I may remind him that, after all, as is stated in the gracious Speech from the Throne, the best remedy for the condition of things from which, unfortunately, the cotton industry is now suffering would appear to lie in increasing the 25 sources of supply of the raw material from the various parts of the Empire.
§ * MR. AKERS-DOUGLASThat is a question I am afraid I cannot answer now.