§ 32. Mr. HANNONasked the Minister of Labour the extent to which unemployment now obtains in the industries associated with the production of handkerchiefs, household linen goods, cotton piece goods, and in those manufactures in which jute and hemp form the whole or part of the finished product; and the volume of employment in similar industries in Switzerland and the corresponding rates of wages and hours of labour of workers employed in these industries in this country and Switzerland, respectively?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI regret that the information in my possession is insufficient to provide a satisfactory basis for the comparisons desired by my hon. Friend, but I will supply him with a statement giving such particulars as are available.
§ Mr. HANNONIs it not a fact that in Switzerland there is practically no unemployment, and that that is a country which is protected, while in this country, with an open Free Trade market, there is substantial unemployment?