§ Mr. ARBUTHNOTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention had been drawn to the statement recently made by the chairman of the British Cotton-growing Association that no further expenditure could be incurred by 844 the association for the purposes of experimenting in any new part of the British Empire unless special assistance be rendered by the Government for this purpose; and whether, in view of the importance of this question to Lancashire, the Government would render such assistance as may be necessary?
The HON. MEMBERfurther asked whether he is aware of the growing danger to the Lancashire cotton industry caused by the fact that the United States of America require for their own use an ever-increasing proportion of the American cotton crop; and whether, in these circumstances, the Government would appoint a Parliamentary Committee to inquire into the best means of developing by State aid the areas within the British Empire where it had been demonstrated that long staple cotton, suitable for the Lancashire industry, could be grown?
Mr. BUXTONI am aware of the facts stated. I am glad to say that the Treasury have recently sanctioned a grant of £10,000 a year for three years to the British Cotton Growing Association in order to assist that body in continuing its experiments in certain portions of the British Empire. Pending the prosecution of these experiments, there seems no occasion for the appointment of such a Parliamentary Committee as the hon. Member suggests.