§ 4. Mr. WADDINGTONasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that Japanese cotton operatives are em- 1697 ployed twelve hours per day for an average pay throughout the mill of 1s. 6¼d. per day per person; that the Japanese millowner employs his machinery an average of 144 hours per week; and whether, in view of this competition, he has any proposals to make to assist those engaged in the cotton trade in this country to maintain their trade?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe hon. Member is doubtless referring to the import of Japanese cotton hosiery. There is a restriction on the import of all such hosiery. The question as to the rate of import to be allowed is now under consideration.