§ 65 and 66. Major ROSSasked the Postmaster-General (1) what is the comparative cost of cancellation stamps for Lancashire advertising cotton, and cancellation stamps for Northern Ireland with the words "Buy Irish Linen";
(2) whether he is aware that numerous firms from Northern Ireland are exhibiting linen at the British Industries Fair; and whether, in view of this fact, he will reconsider his decision as to issuing a cancellation stamp for the Northern Ireland district bearing the words "Buy Irish Linen"?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHI have not been influenced in this matter by questions of cost. The reason for my refusal in the case of Irish linen is, as I informed the hon. Member on the 2nd February, that the exceptional features in the case of the cotton industry exhibit at the White City do not apply to the British linen industry exhibit at Olympia.
§ Major ROSSWhy will the right hon. Gentleman not answer my question as to 35 the cost, and secondly, will he say how the fact of the exhibition being a general and not an individual exhibition of the trade affects either the needs of the industry in question or the obligation of the Post Office towards it?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHThe cost would be the same in both cases. The position of the cotton industry is very exceptional. They have a new exhibit which is practically a separate section of the British Industries Fair and occupies a separate section at the White City. No other industry is in that position.