ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 337, 26 October 1908, Page 3

ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE.

BY PARLIAMENTARIAN. It. is sometimes asserted on the floor of tho House that tho industries of Britain are suffering -a species of paralysis that portends decay. With some apparent show of reason it is frequently stated that in the commercial and industrial race, of tho nations the OLD COUNTRY lags behind. In the nature of things it is difficult to assess the exact value of statements of this character. But it may be asserted with confidence that tliero is. at least one industry in wbich Great .Britain still maintains a proud preeminence: No ono questions her supremacy in the great carpet industry. Yesterday I lunched in the lew home of a prominent merchant; and ny aitentm ivas rivei/ed upon tho iloors. A magnificent velvet pile, in dull b'-uo and crimson, wbich had been purchased at the ridiculously low figure of 10s. (id. por yard, covered the drawing-room. • In ■ tho ■ dining-room- a seamless Axminst-er in gold, rose, and green tones was rcoit effective, the design ' being unusual and striking, and the whole cost only £4 10s. Tho stairs were delightful with an .Axminster runner in crimson and brown, and-my communicative host '.old me : ho gave but 10s. 6d. a yard for it. On tho back stairs lay a new tapestry in dark brown and rose, the value being only 2s. lid. per yard. Vory effective were the rugs scattered upon tho polished study floor, which mine host explained were splendid quality at very reasonable figures. The fox skin, • possum-bordered rug at, 375. 6d., by. the hearth, was beautiful, and I may -tell ■ you this housb . was . . ' .furnished throughout,.,by,..Messrs. Veitch and_ Allan, from..itheir l ! magnificent stock of English and Scotch carpets. On the floor of THIS house, at any rate, there n'ere manifold arguments, appealing equally to one's patriotic pride in tho achievements of British industry; to one's artistic taste; ,and, above all, to one's abiding senso of - true economy.