§ 8. Mr. GRANVILLE GIBSONasked the President of the Board of Trade if he has received a report from the Manchester Chamber of Commerce on the result of the ballot recently taken of its members on the question as to whether they favoured the adoption of a protectionist policy as part of our fiscal system; and what action does he propose to take?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMNo, Sir. I have received no such report.
§ Mr. GIBSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that the vote was overwhelmingly in favour of Safeguarding and against Free Trade?
§ Mr. GRAHAMI saw certain reports in the Press, but what the hon. Member asked me was whether I had received a report from the Manchester Chamber of Commerce. They have not communicated with me on this question.
§ Mr. ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUELIf we supply the right hon. Gentleman with information on the point, will he see that it is sent on to the Geneva Tariff Truce Conference?
§ Mr. GRAHAMNo. I think there would be no need to do that.
§ Mr. HANNONIn a case of this kind, and in instances in other cities where polls of this nature have been carried out and a decisive verdict has been given in favour of Safeguarding, are we to understand that the right hon. Gentleman takes no notice of such decisions?
§ Mr. GRAHAMCertainly I take notice of all these matters, but, after all, I should think that this ballot represents quite a small proportion of the aggregate trade of Manchester.
§ Mr. PHILIP OLIVERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that the Manchester Chamber of Commerce passed a resolution in favour of Protection in the year 1888?