§ Mr. DOUGLAS HALLasked the President of the Board of Trade whether a duty of seven dollars per ton gross or a 35 per cent. ad valorem duty was now imposed by the United States Government on all yachts built in this country and imported into the United States; whether he was aware that the imposition of such a duty had caused, and would cause, losses to yacht builders on the Solent and in Southampton Water; whether His Majesty's Government had made any, and, if so, what, representations to the Government of the United States 1300 with a view to mitigating the loss which this duty inflicted on British yacht builders?
Mr. BUXTONSection 37 of the United States Tariff Act of last year provides for the levy of an annual tax at the rate of 7 dollars per gross ton upon the use of every foreign-built yacht, pleasure boat, or vessel not used or intended to be used for trade, owned or chartered for more than six months by citizens of the United States. This annual tax may be commuted by the payment of a single sum at the rate of 35 per cent. ad valorem. No doubt this tax was intended to have an effect in lessening the demand in the United States for foreign-built yachts. His Majesty's Government have not made any representations on the subject to the Government of the United States, as no advantages would appear to be gained by so doing.
§ Mr. DOUGLAS HALLWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of introducing legislation to strengthen this demand?