§ 12. Sir JOHN BUTCHERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the findings of the Committee on Profiteering in sewing cotton, from which it appears that when Messrs. Coats sell their sewing cotton to retailers they bind them under contract to sell sewing cotton manufactured by competitors of Messrs. Coats with the same margin of profit at which they sell sewing cotton manufactured by Messrs. Coats, and that this contract makes it extremely difficult for manufacturers of sewing cotton, other than Messrs. Coats, to obtain a footing in this market; and whether he will consult the Law Officers of the Crown as to whether such a contract is void as being in restraint of trade?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI am aware of the facts referred to by my hon. Friend, and I will consider the question of consulting the Law Officers as he suggests.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERWill the hon. Gentleman or the Government arrange to deal with this very important matter, or, failing that, introduce legislation?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANIt is an important matter, but I cannot undertake to say what course the Government will pursue, but they will give it their most earnest consideration.