§ 19. Mr. HACKINGasked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to resume his meetings with the various sections of the cotton industry in connection with the Government's proposals for the reorganisation of the industry?
§ 20. Mr. REMERasked the President of the Board of Trade if he has been conducting any further negotiations with those interested in the cotton industry as to the reorganisation of that industry; and if he is prepared to state the nature of these negotiations?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMIt was not felt that the discussions with the various sections of the cotton industry could be profitably pursued while the recent dispute was in progress. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I have during the last week had a conference with representatives of the joint committee of Cotton Trade Organisations and discussed the position with them. The future course of action is now under consideration.
§ Mr. HACKINGHas the right hon. Gentleman taken full advantage of the opportunity that has been presented to him during the last two hours to learn something more about the industry?
§ Mr. GRAHAMIf by that the right hon. Gentleman means the honour of being presented to the "Cotton Queen," that is certainly true.
§ Mr. HERBERT GIBSONCan my right hon. Friend say what steps, if any, have been taken to eliminate the unnecessary number of middlemen from the cotton industry?
§ Mr. GRAHAMThat is bound up with the discussions which we are having with the different sections of the trade, and I am afraid that it would be quite impossible, in reply to a supplementary question, to give details of the various plans.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIf in the course of the investigations it is found that they can do without the middlemen, and these middlemen are displaced, will the same treatment be meted out to them as is meted out to workmen displaced by disarmament and rationalisation?
§ Mr. GRAHAMI am afraid it is quite impossible to give my hon. Friend details of the proposals which are being made. It will require a very great deal of explanation which I cannot possibly attempt to give in reply to a supplementary question.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODrose—
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe cannot go into details of this question now.