§ Mr. HUNTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the grievance complained of at the recent conference of the United Kingdom Commercial Travellers' Association concerning the effect upon all commercial travellers from the United Kingdom by the taxation they have to pay before they are allowed to offer for sale articles of British or Irish manufacture; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. TENNANTThis matter is one which has on various occasions been before my Department, and representations with regard to it have been made from time to time by His Majesty's Government to the principal foreign Governments concerned. I regret to say that the success which has attended these representations has not hitherto been great, but I will bear the matter in mind with a view of reverting to it on the occurrence of a favourable opportunity. I may add, how- 1666 ever, that during the last few years a series of reciprocal arrangements have been concluded with the chief commercial countries with a view to facilitate the operations of British commercial travellers abroad by avoiding needless delay and formalities in clearing their samples through the Customs Houses.
§ Mr. HUNTAre we to understand that the Government is practically, as usual, helpless on account of being tied down by the Free Trade system?
§ Mr. TENNANTOn the contrary, as I have just informed the hon. Member, we have been able to remove certain restrictions and formalities.
§ Mr. HUNTMay I ask did not the Government give the American Government something for the concession they gained?