§ Mr. MYERSasked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been directed to the state of under-employment existing in the upper-leather producing industries in Leeds and elsewhere; and if he will order an inquiry to be made into the causes of such under-employment with a view to remedying the position and to provide fuller employment for the trained men involved?
§ Sir M. BARLOWI am aware of the under-employment prevailing in the upper-leather producing industries in Leeds and elsewhere. Many of the larger firms in the Leeds district are understood to be working short time, whilst some have recently closed their works. The state of the trade is attributed to a variety of82W causes, including the instability of prices of raw material, the effect of adverse rates of foreign exchange, and other factors which are causing depression in this and other industries. I do not think a special inquiry into the circumstances of this trade at the present time would serve any useful purpose.