a Refusal of Federation's Application Loxdon, Feb, In reply to a request of the Iron and Steel Trades Federation for a commission of inquiry into the conditions of the industry, the Premier, while expressing sympathy with their difficulties, says he thinks long. roving inquiry would not be helpful to the industry.
He points out that the committes on industry and trade now sitting under the chairmanship of Sit} 'Arthur Balfour has already pre-ented a detailed report on the iron Gnd steel industry and says obviously unnecessary that any inquiry should traverse again the Ground so recently covered by the Balfour Committee. in framing its rating' yo form scheme, the Government had Faid particular attention to the: aecds of iron and steel and the refiefs under that scheme, both from the view point of rates and railway Areights, are designed and caleulat-1 to be of special benefit to this, industry, It is the policy of the Conservative Government, if it is Returned to power, to allow the iron and steel industry to make application under the Safeguarding of In-Wustries procedure and it will then Suave an opportunity of stating its lease before an independent tribunal.
The executive of the confederaition, in their reply, express disappointment at the Premier's decision. They say the course suggested by the Premier would involve tumecessary delay and, as it would dependent on the Generat Eles-ition, would introduce an element of Political controversy. They add tthe Balfour Committee's genral survey would not be suliciently complete as regards the iron and steel industry, The executive hope \tho Premier may find it possible, on Toconsideration, to set up the committee they ' proposed.—British Wireless through Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.