§ Sir W. Smithersasked the President of the Board of Trade why he declined the publication of a letter recently sent to the Cotton Controller, Mr. R. W. Lacey, by the Alexandria Cotton Exporters Association; and if he will now publish it.
§ Mr. MarquandAs I informed the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale (Mr. Erroll) on 5th November, no sufficient reason is seen for publishing the correspondence. The terms of the letter from the Exporters Association are, I understand, already widely known in the trade.
§ Sir W. Smithersasked the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take in view of the statement in the letter addressed to Mr. R. W. Lacey, Chairman of the Raw Cotton Buying 275W Advisory Committee by the Alexandria Cotton Exporters Association, that, when the Alexandria Futures Market reopens they would no longer make offers at fixed prices and their offers would be made on the basis of Alexandria contracts.
§ Mr. MarquandSo far as I am aware, the Alexandria Futures Market is, in any event, not likely to re-open before the spring. When more definite information is available, the future basis of purchase will be considered, either by the Board of Trade or by the proposed Raw Cotton Commission, if then established.