§ 68. Mr. KINGasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that on 24th July at the Manchester Appeal Tribunal an applicant for exemption produced a letter from the Department of Overseas Trade saying that the applicant was a partner in this country with a Mr. Scotson, of Shanghai, trading in piece goods, and that in view of the attempts by Japanese and Americans to capture the German trade in the East it was most important that British trade should be protected and the applicant Withington allowed to continue his business in this country, and that the chairman, Mr. W. L. Hockin, said it was surprising that a Government Department should write such a letter, that he was glad there were no reporters present, that he would not care to hear of it being read in Parliament, that he quite agreed with the views in the letter, and he and his two colleagues at once agreed to 889 exemption to 31st January; and whether firms competing with Mr. Scotson's in Shanghai and other firms having trade relations with China will be entitled to apply to the Manchester Appeal Tribunal?
Mr. FISHERI have received a communication from the chairman of the Appeal Tribunal respecting this case. The case was considered and decided wholly on its merits. I may mention that the man in question is forty-eight years of age and in Grade 2. Firms must apply to the appropriate tribunal as laid down in the Regulations.
§ Mr. KINGI suppose that the chairman of the tribunal admits the allegations of my question, as they are not contradicted?
§ Mr. KINGAre not these facts consistent with one theory only—namely, that people in the Department of Information are given the pull of things by reason of advantages they get given them by Government Departments?