London, July 24.
On the Board of Trade vote the House of Commons to-lay discussed trade and industry, particularly in connection with iron, steel and cotton.
The President of the Board of rade, Mr. William Graham, replying to members, stated that position of the iron and steel i dustry was not so bad as was painted. He remarked that the figures of production for 1913 ani 1929 were not s0 far removed fro tained strong hopes that the nego-jons now being conducted with ployers and th industry might afford a measure of agreement.
He regretted that the condition of the cotton industry was worse, due to the boycott in India and trade and other conditions in China and the Far East. Even if the cot ton trade improved considerably, he said, many factories could not be reopened for a long time. The report of the Cotton Committee mate certain recommendations with regard to linking up the various parts of the industry.
A fundamental quest vas when ther the necessary re-o7 yuld be enforced without ing the element of compulsion. The Government preferred such a cola tion, but, though he was not promising legislation, it might be necessary to approach Parliament in tae matter, In cozelusion, Mr. Graham stated that one bright spot in trade conditions was the preferences Canada. had accorded to Great Britain. He expressed the hope that they woul get a little more such encourage ment when the Imperial Conference was in session—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.