Cotton Piece Goods, Manchester.

Oral Answers to Questions — Trade and Commerce. – in the House of Commons at on 18 June 1942.

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Photo of Mr Samuel Hammersley Mr Samuel Hammersley , Willesden East

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that large quantities of cotton piece goods, originally intended for the Dutch East Indies, are held up in Manchester warehouses; that permission to transfer these goods to the West African market is being withheld by the Cotton Board; that the owners of these goods are, in consequence, forced to incur substantial additional charges for interest, storage and insurance; and what steps he is taking to ensure that this delay involving wasteful expenditure with consequent unnecessarily high charges to approved, friendly and willing purchasers, is brought to an end?

Photo of Mr Harcourt Johnstone Mr Harcourt Johnstone , Middlesbrough West

Yes, Sir. Negotiations are proceeding which, I hope, will satisfactorily resolve these difficulties.

Photo of Mr Samuel Hammersley Mr Samuel Hammersley , Willesden East

As these negotiations have now been going on for something like two months, is it not quite clear that it is in everybody's interest that this unnecessary delay should cease, and could not the goods be disposed of?

Photo of Mr Harcourt Johnstone Mr Harcourt Johnstone , Middlesbrough West

I am hoping that the negotiations will be satisfactorily concluded very soon.