§ 107. Mr. PENNEFATHERasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state if the Board of Trade has selected to serve upon the Textile Committee appointed to consider trade after the War two ex-directors of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce whose services, have recently been dispensed with by that chamber in consequence of their not representing that chamber's views?
Mr. RUNCIMANI am aware that the two gentlemen referred to have ceased to be directors of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, but I have no reason to suppose that their appointment to the Textile Committee is not generally approved by the cotton trade.
§ Sir J. RANDLESAs these directors do not now represent the Chamber of Commerce, will the right hon. Gentleman put on additional members who do represent that body?
Mr. RUNCIMANNo, Sir. The Committee that is set up is not a representative Committee in the ordinary sense of the word. If it were necessary to make it 673 a representative Committee it would be too large and unwieldy, and that is not a practice followed by Government Departments. The two gentlemen were selected as being well informed on two aspects of the cotton trade, and one of them was recommended by the highest authorities in Manchester irrespective of his fiscal views.