Major NEWMANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the casing trade in this country and in America is in the hands of a ring composed of Germans, American-Germans, and Jews of German extraction, that consequently the supply of goldbeater's skins, of which some thousands are necessary for the construction of each lighter-than-air machine, was before the War and for two years subsequently controlled by this ring, who exported the bullocks' offal from which the goldbeater skin is obtained to Germany, receiving in return manufactured goods; whether he is aware that Germany was thus enabled to construct a fleet of lighter-than-air machines; and what steps he is taking to control this ring's operations at the conclusion of hostilities, whether the firms composing it are of enemy origin or not?
§ Mr. WARDLEI believe it is the case that the trade in question was, before the War, mainly in the hands of Germans, and that quantities of goldbeater skins were exported from the United Kingdom to Germany for use in building airships. I am informed by the Admiralty that under the Defence of the Realm Regulations that Department now has control of the whole United Kingdom trade in goldbeater skin, and no firm can do business in that commodity in this country without2028W a permit The question of the measures to be taken after the War is being considered in conjunction with the Departments concerned.