§ Mr. H. HyndWith your permission, Mr. Speaker, I wish to present a Petition, signed by the Chairman of the Council and 1,070 other inhabitants of Oswaldtwistle. They wish to draw the attention of the House to the continued deterioration and contraction of the textile industry. They point out that after the war they loyally supported the appeal of the Government for increased production in this industry, and feel that they have been let down by subsequent events. They also point out that factories in the town are closing permanently, that workers are struggling along on short time, and that consequent reduced production is thereby causing the workers to receive lower earnings.
The Prayer is as follows:
Wherefore, your Petitioners humbly pray your Honourable House that immediate and effective action will be taken in order to create a situation in which the Lancashire textile industry, both employers and employees, can prosper in conditions of fair competition by restricting the importation of textile goods produced under unfair conditions, by expanding the foreign market for home-produced goods by making provision for cotton textile exports in trade agreements negotiated by the Government, by encouraging the consumption of home-produced textile goods in the United Kingdom, and by assisting the industry in the efforts which it is already making to modernise its manufacturing processes and to introduce up to date marketing methods.And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
§ To lie upon the Table.