§ 99. Captain BARNETTasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in April last, there was a shortage of wire rods in this country but the increased output of British rods was officially expected to find employment for all wire-drawing plant in the near future; whether on 1st August the shortage had become accentuated, many wire-drawing mills were idle, and the shortage of wire rods, the raw material of such mills, was officially expected to last a further three months; and, if so, whether, in connection with the importation of wire rods now found necessary, he will consider the desirability of consulting the trade?
§ Mr. FORSTERI am afraid that the information supplied to my hon. and gallant Friend is not quite accurate. No wire-drawing mill was idle on the 1st August. Owing to a temporary breakdown of one of the largest rod-rolling mills the shortage of rods had become accentuated by that date. This mill is now in full operation again, and steps have been taken to guard against any such contingency in the future. As I stated on Thursday last, the importation of wire rods is only a temporary measure, and it is hoped that in three months' time no further imports will be necessary.