§ MR. RUNCIMAN (Dewsbury)To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that price lists over a certain size are subjected to an import duty in Australia when sent from the United Kingdom; whether he has drawn attention to the amount of irritation which this has caused amongst English and Australian traders; and whether he is prepared to suggest to the Commonwealth Government the advisability of removing these restrictions.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) I have received several communications drawing attention to the duty imposed in Australia on the importation of trade catalogues and price lists. These communications have been forwarded to the Government of the Commonwealth, and I have been informed by that Government that the primary object of the duty in question is not for the purpose of revenue, but for the encouragement of local printing, and that the Government has no present intention of altering the law in this connection.