§ 59. Captain DOWERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the first report of the Indian Cotton Inquiry Committee; and whether, as a result of the views expressed therein that Lancashire might find Indian cotton an adequate substitute for American, he proposes to take any action to assist the promotion of such development?
§ Dr. BURGINI have seen the report to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers. The present position is that the Indian Cotton Inquiry Committee are in communication with the Indian 2211 cotton-growing interests with a view to the elucidation of technical and other questions affecting the use of Indian cotton in Lancashire. The Government are following with close interest the work of the committee, and my hon. and gallant Friend may rest assured that no opportunity will be lost of supporting the movement, but I do not think that at the present stage there is any definite action which the Government could usefully take in the matter.