§ 31. Mr. WATTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the speeches of members of tribunals under the Military Service Act, 1916, to the effect that our export trade is of less importance than the supply 1176 of men at the front; and, if so, will he take some action to impress on tribunals the necessity of keeping our trades going, especially during War time?
§ Mr. PRETYMANThe Board of Trade have no direct control over the local tribunals, which were set up by the Local Government Board. I have no reason to think that the tribunals are insufficiently impressed with the necessity of maintaining our export trade, to which their attention has been called in a circular issued by the Local Government Board, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.