§ 3. Mr. THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state the approximate number of workpeople engaged in the export trade in this country?
§ Dr. BURGINI regret that the available information is insufficient for the purpose of such an estimate.
§ Mr. THORNEDo I understand that the Minister has no information on the subject, although it is a well-known fact that ex-Members of this House, have stated time and again the approximate number of men and women engaged the export trade?
§ Dr. BURGINIt is not difficult to estimate the percentage of goods that are used for export. The difficulty is to make any calculation as to the number of work-people engaged in the export trade. The expression "workpeople engaged in the export trade" is not one that is capable of exact definition.
§ Mr. THORNEIs it not a fact that not more than 11 per cent. of the people in this country are engaged in the export trade?
§ Sir ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUELIs the Minister aware that the late Mr. William Graham stated specifically that one-third of our workpeople were engaged in the export trade?
§ Mr. CHARLES WILLIAMSAre not these Socialist facts fallacious?