THE TERM "BRITISH"

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 94, 22 April 1935, Page 10

THE TERM "BRITISH"

AS APPLIED TO TEXTILES

I' A deputation from the Manchester Chamber of Commerce and other textile organisations called on the Board of Trade recently to discuss the question of the application of the term "British" to finished fabric made from imported grey cloth. ■ „ . , . Under present regulations such finished fabric, even when it is made from, imported—largely Japanese*—grey cloth, may still enter various Empire and colonial markets as "British" cloth under the Empire contents clause, states the "Manchester Guardian Commercial." Not only does such "British" cloth benefit by preferential tariffs, but also by quota regulations. • . Lancashire is strongly of the opinion that cloth should not be described as British unless it is in fact 100 per cent. British, excluding raw material. The definition proposed by textile interests —and the cotton and. rayon trades have the backing of the silk and wool textile industries in this respect—is that only cloth made from yarns spun in Britain, and manufactured, bleached, dyed, printed, and finished in this country shall be described as British cloth. It is understood that the Government is likely to accede to this request.