§ 42. Mr. Gammansasked the President of the Board of Trade why in the recent down-pointing of rubber mackintoshes he has omitted gaberdine raincoats; and if he is aware of the large stocks of these raincoats in the hands of wholesalers and retailers.
§ Mr. H. WilsonGaberdine raincoats have not been downpointed because gaberdine is particularly valuable for export and because there is less risk of deterioration in these chemically proofed garments than in the rubberised mackintoshes. The stocks are mainly in utility, and although utility clothing is not normally exported, I am willing in view of representations received since my announcement last week to allow the export of utility cotton gaberdine raincoats for the present.