§ MR. SAMUEL ROBERTS (Sheffield, Ecclesall)To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that for many years previous to 1892 the integral and indispensable parts of an umbrella, such as slides and ferrules, etc., made of common brass, were subject to an import duty into France of sixteen francs per 100 kilos, (or roughly 12s. 8d. per two cwt.), and that at this duty it was possible to do a good trade at a small profit; but that in 1892 there was a considerable advance in the French tariffs, and through wrong classification these small brass articles forming indispensable parts of the commonest umbrellas were included with the dispensable parts, such as gold and silver-plated mounts, and charged at the duty of 100 francs per 100 kilos., as fixed for imitation jewellery; and whether he will cause representations to be made to the French Government with a view to having the classification rectified, and these duties readjusted.
(Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) The facts are as stated. We are at present in communication with the French Government on the subject.