HC Deb 14 March 1928 vol 214 cc1917-8
47. Mr. JOHNSTON

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to cases of cotton mills in this country being dismantled and their machinery sold abroad to countries where labour is cheaper and hours of labour longer; and whether he proposes to take any and, if so, what steps to facilitate a better re-organisation of the cotton industry and the drastic reduction of inflated balance-sheets?

44. Mr. ROBINSON

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that the employers' and workers' representatives in the cotton industry have agreed to an inquiry into the costs of production and distribution of cotton products, he proposes to take any steps in the matter, either by consulting with the parties on the scope and form of the inquiry or by the appointment of a Government Committee to investigate fully all the questions affecting costs of production and distribution?

Mr. WILLIAMS

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for the Elland Division (Mr. Robinson) on 9th February, and to the statement which he made in the House on the Debate on the Vote on Account on 1st March.

Mr. JOHNSTON

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the report to which he refers me made no reference whatever to the dismantling of mills and to the sale of the machinery to cheap labour countries?

Mr. HILTON

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that only yesterday in Manchester a mill was put up for auction—an old-fashioned well-established concern without any inflated capital—and no bid came from those present? The foreigner is now at liberty to bid for it at secondhand breaking-up price.

Mr. WILLIAMS

I shall be glad to have particulars of that ease.

Brigadier-General Sir HENRY CROFT

Will the hon. Gentleman call the attention of the numerous foreign artificial silk firms to the fact that these factories are vacant, and see whether they cannot possibly be encouraged to set to work at once, in order to relieve the distress in Manchester?

Mr. WILLIAMS

I will consider that suggestion.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Was the hon. Gentleman's attention called to the leading article in the "Times" yesterday, in which the blame for the whole trouble is put on this very fact of the over-inflation of capital?

Mr. WILLIAMS

I read that very interesting article and obtained much profit from it.

Mr. JOHNSTON

Will the hon. Gentleman reply to the supplementary question which I put? Is it the case that in the report to which he refers me there is no mention whatever of the dismantling of mills and the sale of machinery to cheap labour countries?

Mr. WILLIAMS

I do not think there was any specific reference to that, but it all arises out of the general state of the industry, which is dealt with in the speech referred to.

Mr. JOHNSTON

Is it not the case that the hon. Member refers me for an answer to my question to a report which gives me no answer whatever?