Sir William Lane Mitchell (Conservative: Wandsworth, Streatham Div.) asked whether, in'view of the anxiety und uncertainty prevailing in the rubber trade owing to the Announcement of the inquiry into the Restriction Scheme, the Premier would give an assurance that long notice Would be given of any al. toration so that the trade may be able to: carry on in the assumption that the present rubber restriction scheme. will continue in force for Toast, twelve months. more.
seasiey'Batdwin rolled that ho was unable to anticipate the nature of the Committee's report for the action which the Government might take after the report had been rendered.
Ho asked for notice of a question whether leaders in the rubber producing industry had boon consulted before the decision to hold the in-airy had been taken, Members dwelt, on the resentment aroused owing to the news of the decision to inquire into the Restriction Scheme being known in America before it was announced London and on the inconvenience caused to business in the City by the suddenness of the declaration. They suggested that those inter-ted in the robber industry should consulted before any. announcement was made regarding the result of the present inquiry.
The Premier emp that it was a very to provide that an announcement on any given subject at any time would not be sudden, Ho said that if the Announcement. to hold the inguiry were known in New York on the Views of Industry to Be Heard Feb. 15.
In the House of Commons to-day at question time Mr. Baldwin seid that before any announcement was made the Colonial Office confident ally informed the Advisory Committee on the Stevenson Restriction Scheme that the Government had decided to examine the Scheme. Neither the Advisory Committee. [hor the industry could properly. have been consulted at that stage, ut full opportunity would be given to representatives of the rubber' industry to submit their views the Committee.
'The Prime Minister added that was not usual for the Cabinet to give details of Cabinet committees' procedure. He emphasized that the Inst thing the Government wished to do was anything likely cause stress to the rubber industry. When they had to form fan opinion on the report of the Committee ingairing into the Scheme, he said, they would every consideration to the of the industry.
In reply to a suggestion that any sudden change in the arrangement might cost the Treasury a great deal of many, Mr. Baldwin said that ho was iamiline with that point, which would be watched.—Reuter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.