§ 9. Captain BARNETTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, as a result of Government control of the importation of wire nails, the trade is now faced with a loss of over £500,000; and what steps, if any, he proposes to take in the matter?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI do not know to what particular trade the hon. and gallant Member refers, nor how the estimate of loss has been arrived at. The question of import restrictions is under the consideration of the Government, and I shall be glad if my hon. Friend will give me the information from which he derives his figures.
§ Captain BARNETTIs my hon. Friend aware that 70,000 tons of these nails purchased by British merchants were held up at New York and were rushed over to this country on the signing of the Armistice, and the price dropped £10 per ton?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI shall require notice of that question.