BRUSH IRON NDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 130, 26 February 1929, Page 11

BRUSH IRON NDUSTRY

COMMISSION WANTED ’ v ; -. , .. — ' G ; ' (Jltish Official Wireless.) k; Rugby, February 22. Tn rely to a.request of the Iron and Steel 'fades Confederation for a Commisio of Inquiry into the conditions of th< industry, the Prime Minister, whleixpressing sympathy with their dificitles, says that he thinks an inqutywould not be helpful to the induiti. He points out . that the Commit! on Industry and Trade, now sittirginder the chairmanship of Sir Artlr Balfour, has already presented

a Jelled report on the iron and steel Indury, and says that it is obviously unnessary that any inquiry should tratse the ground again so recently

coved by the Balfour Committee. “Meover, in framing its. rating re-

for scheme, the Government had paid papular attention to ’the needs of iroand steel, and reliefs under that seme both from the viewpoint of ras and railway freights are designed ar calculated to' be of special benefit tfhiS particular, industry.. It is the pey of the Conservative Governint, if returned to power, to allow

p iron and steel industry to make ap■ication under the safeguarding of iniistries procedure. It will then have he opportunity of stating its case before an independent tribunal.” . The executive of the confederation, in reply,, expressed disappointment at the Prime Minister’s decision. They say that the course suggested by the Prime Minister would involve unnecessary delay, and, as it would be dependent on the general election, it would introduce an element of political controversy. They add that the Balfour Committee’s general survey would not be sufficiently complete as regards the iron and steel industry. The executive hopes that the Prime Minister may find it possible on reconsideration to set up the committee they proposed. . ' .