§ 23. Mr. William Shepherdasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the lowest number of spindles he is now prepared to consider for subsidy; and whether he is intending to make any special arrangements in respect of vertical combers.
§ Mr. H. WilsonDuring the passage of the Cotton Spinning (Re-equipment Subsidy) Act through Parliament, it was made clear that we did not propose to insist rigidly on the figure of 400,000 spindles; I am ready to consider on their merits recommendations by the Cotton Board in respect of somewhat smaller groups which they consider acceptable in other respects. In particular, consideration would be given to a suitably organised vertical group controlling something in the region of 250,000 spindles.
§ Sir Waldron SmithersWill the right hon. Gentleman please read the leading article on this subject in the "Manchester Guardian" this morning?
§ Mr. WilsonI have read it.