§ 43. Mr. REMERasked the President of the Board of Trade on what basis his calculations were made that four-fifths of the spinning industry were in favour of the Cotton Spinning Industry Bill?
§ Dr. BURGINThe original votes in favour of the scheme covered 78 per cent. of the spindles represented in the ballot, though some of these votes were conditional. The proportion of two-thirds mentioned in my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Blackpool (Captain Erskine-Bolst) on 23rd July represents the proportion of 2297 spindles supporting the scheme in the industry as a whole, including those who did not vote.
§ Mr. REMERDid not the right hon. Gentleman the President of the Board of Trade state in the Debate that four-fifths of the industry were in favour of the scheme, and is it now to be taken from the hon. Gentleman's answer that that opinion is not correct?
§ Dr. BURGINNo, Sir. It was because four-fifths was stated that I pointed out that, arithmetically, the figure was 78.
§ Mr. REMERIs it not a fact that a great many of those people have since stated that they are not in favour of the scheme?
§ Dr. BURGINI think my answer covers that point.
§ Mr. HAMMERSLEYIs it not a fact that since the Bill was published a number of spindles, amounting to 250,000, additional to those referred to in the hon. Gentleman's reply, have expressed themselves as in favour of the Bill?
§ Dr. BURGINA large number of additional spindles have expressed approval of the Bill since the Bill was published.
§ 44. Mr. REMERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has made any calculations in regard to, and will state the number of men who will be placed in unemployment through, the operations of the scheme embodied in the Cotton Spinning Industry Bill?
§ Dr. BURGINI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour to the hon. and learned Member for Argyllshire (Mr. Macquisten) on 18th July.
§ Mr. REMERIs my hon. Friend aware that the committee stated that 3,000 or 4,000 people were going to be put out of work by this scheme, and will he confirm that figure?
§ Dr. BURGINNo, I have not that figure.
§ Mr. REMERIs my hon. Friend aware that these statements were made by an important committee of this House?
§ Dr. BURGINNo, I have not that information.
§ Mr. HAMMERSLEYIs the hon. Gentleman aware that many responsible individuals in the trade have expressed the view that the only result of the introduction of the Bill will be that employment in the cotton trade will be very much better?