§ Colonel Stoddart-Scottasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that at least 12 tanneries are idle owing to the dock strike preventing the unloading of ships full of hides; that there is anxiety in the leather trade that people in this island may be unable to get any shoes this winter; how many shiploads lie off these shores; to what extent it is estimated that these hides have rotted; and what steps he intends taking immediately that no one will be bootless in the coming months.
§ Mr. Ellis SmithThe leather supply position has necessarily been made more difficult by the dock strike, which has interfered with the unloading of ships containing parcels of hides of various weights. Of some 25 such vessels at present in port, however, all but one were being unloaded yesterday. Every effort is being made to expedite unloading and delivery to tanneries, and it is hoped that the delay will not result in any appreciable deterioration of the hides.