§ MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick)To ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Lancashire Federation of Master Cotton Spinners on July 19th issued a circular appealing to the spinners on the Continent to co-operate with them in an endeavour to checkmate the manipulation of cotton by speculators; whether he is aware that, in the opinion of the Manchester Cotton Exchange, unless the designs of speculators are defeated, the cotton-spinning industry may again experience unprofitable trade, 924 which would render necessary the adoption of short-time working; that the chairman of the International Cotton Committee has summoned a meeting, to be held in London on the 31st inst., to consider what recommendations should be made to counteract the operations of gambling in the raw material; and whether he can state what steps, if any, the Government intend to propose to safeguard the welfare of the cotton industry.
(Answered by Mr. Bonar Law.) I believe the facts stated are substantially correct (except that the Federation Committee should be substituted for the Manchester Cotton Exchange). I have no proposals to announce.