§ 83. Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the nature of the replies he has sent to the petitions he has received from the Tiverton and District Mercantile Association and from the employés in the Tiverton lace factories on the subject of the lace and silk duties?
§ Mr. P. SNOWDENI have received a copy of a resolution passed at a meeting of the Tiverton and District Mercantile Association on the subject of the silk and lace duties. The communication has been acknowledged. I am unable to trace the receipt of a petition from the employés in the Tiverton lace factories.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this petition was signed by 800 or 900 of the employés; and is he further aware that these Duties have brought great prosperity to this industry and to the town, and that if they are done away with it will have a very serious effect; and will he give this matter his sympathetic consideration?
§ Mr. SNOWDENHow in the world could I be aware of the number of persons who signed this petition when, as I have told the hon. and gallant Member, I have not received it, and can find no trace of it?
§ Mr. C. WILLIAMSWill the right hon. Gentleman give it sympathetic consideration when he does find it?
§ Mr. BEAUMONTOr will he continue to pursue this Free Trade stunt?