§ 25. Mr. ROSEasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the systematic propaganda which is being carried on, obviously on behalf of interested parties, in the newspapers and elsewhere, against the proposed Minesweepers' Trawling Society with a view to persuading fishermen not to support and so lose the advantage of the scheme which was devised for their benefit; and whether he proposes to take any steps to counteract it?
§ Sir J. CRAIGI have been asked to reply to this question. My attention has been drawn to a campaign against the Minesweepers' Trawling Society, but I do not think that any steps are necessary to counteract it. As I informed the hon. and gallant Member for Hull on the 15th ultimo, various matters in connection with the society are under consideration. A further pronouncement will be made when they have been duly considered.
§ Mr. ROSEMay I ask the hon. and gallant Gentleman if he will cultivate 1223 that unusual Ministerial attribute of candour and let the House and the country know definitely and explicitly whether or not it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to burke this excellent scheme in the interests of a gang of profiteering fishmongers?
§ Sir J. CRAIGMy hon. Friend will recognise that his right hon. Friend the Member for Platting (Mr. Clynes) is Chairman, or, at any rate, acting in connection with the scheme; he may, therefore, rest assured that the interests of which he is speaking at the moment will be well looked after by the right hon. Gentleman.