§ Mr. REMERasked the President of the Board of Trade, whether under the appeals from Government circles to capture German trade the silk manufac- 1536W turers in this country increased their machinery, enlarged their buildings and plant, and trained numerous workmen and workwomen in the highly skilled art of silk manufacture; whether, unless something is done quickly to meet this competition owing to the depreciated mark, this machinery will be idle and the workpeople either out of work or working short time; whether German manufactured silk goods are being imported freely at nearly half the English price; and what steps he proposes to take to protect these workpeople in their threatened difficulties?
§ Sir R. HORNEI am aware that silk manufacturers took steps to devlop their trade after the outbreak of war, but I am not aware of any special appeals which were made to them by the Government. As regards the present position, I am receiving a deputation from the Joint Industrial Council of the industry on Wednesday next (17th November), when the general situation and possible measures to deal with it will doubtless be discussed.