§ Mr. LESLIE SCOTTasked if the right lion. Gentleman will explain the reasons for which, upon the revision of the Southern Nigerian Customs Tariff in January last, all duty was taken off enamelled ware and glass ware, articles generally manufactured abroad, whilst the duty was maintained on competing articles, namely, chinaware and earthenware, which are manufactured almost entirely in the United Kingdom; and whether such preference of the foreign manufacturer over his British competitor has the sanction of His Majesty's Govern-mentment; and, if not, whether he will institute a measure of Tariff Reform in Southern Nigeria, with a view to putting British manufacturers on a footing at least of equality with their foreign competitors?
Mr. HARCOURTBefore the revision of the tariff most of the goods imported into Southern Nigeria were subject to an ad valorem duty of 10 per cent. In accordance with the repeatedly expressed wishes of a large section of West African merchants, these ad valorem duties have been abolished except in a few cases, the free list has been greatly extended, and the loss of revenue made good by certain increases in the specific duties. Glass ware and enamel ware are among the goods placed on the free list (the amount of duty received from their importation being small), along with about twenty-five other classes of goods. Earthenware (which includes chinaware) is one of the few classes retained on the ad valorem list, the local committee which discussed the matter having held that it could not conveniently be subjected to a specific duty, and the Governor not being prepared to recommend its transference to the free list, no doubt on account of the loss of revenue which would have been entailed. The fact that out of twenty-six classes of goods put on the free list only three are imported in greater quantities from foreign countries than from the United Kingdom is sufficient to show that no complaint can be made on the ground of unfair preference to foreign goods.
§ Mr. LESLIE SCOTTIs it not a fact that on the alteration of the duty in January last the ad valorem duty was taken off the articles manufactured abroad and left upon similar articles competing with those articles manufactured here in this country? I understand the right hon. Gentleman admits that.
Mr. HARCOURTI have stated the facts as they are within my knowledge in my answer to the hon. Member's question.
§ Mr. LESLIE SCOTTWill the right hon. Gentleman take steps with a view to removing this burden from the British manufacturers?
§ Mr. WEDGWOODCan the right hon. Gentleman say if Southern Nigeria will follow the example of Northern Nigeria by putting earthenware and china ware on the free list?
§ Mr. LESLIE SCOTTMay I call the right hon. Gentleman's attention to the fact that my question includes the specific point he has asked me to put down.