§ 37. Mr. PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the Reports of British Consuls in China issued in 1911, which show that both British and Indian cotton goods are being rapidly driven out of the China market by Japanese goods, which are manufactured and marketed at from 25 per cent. to 40 per cent. below British goods; and whether the Government intend taking any steps to prevent a similar result taking place in the Indian market as soon as the demand for imported cotton goods in China has been fully met by the products of Japanese cotton mills?
Mr. ROBERTSONThe hon. Member presumably refers to the remarks contained in the Report of the Acting Commercial Attaché for China for the year 1910, which were based on the trade statistics for that year. Later statistics show that during 1911 British trade in cotton piece goods had more than recovered its position in the Chinese market, whilst Japanese progress was much less marked. Imports of cottons, from India into China have always been relatively small. In these circumstances it appears unnecessary to consider the contingency suggested in the second part of the question.
§ 38. Mr. PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade, whether his attention has been drawn to the official Japanese Government Returns for January to May, 1911, and January to May, 1912, of imports of cotton yarns and cotton and woollen piece goods, showing a diminution to one-half in cotton yarns, to one-sixth in cotton shirtings and prints (from 4,248,418 yen to 711,064 yen) to less than half in cotton, satin, and italians, to less than one-fourth in woollen cloths and serges, and to less than one-tenth in mousseline de laine; whether these imported into Japan have been nearly exclusively from Great Britain in the past; whether the fall in imports into Japan is due to the operation of the new tariff that came into force in Japan in July last; and whether the Government propose to take any steps to make good the loss of trade, which seriously affects Lancashire and Yorkshire, by securing other 3169 markets, particularly within the British Empire?
Mr. ROBERTSONThe facts are substantially as stated, except that mousseline de laine is not imported into Japan from the United Kingdom. I have already explained to the hon. Member, in answer to a question which he addressed to me on 20th June, that the comparison with a year ago docs not convey the real facts of the situation, on account of the temporary disturbance of trade due to the anticipation of the new Japanese tariff. As compared with two years ago, imports of cottons and woollens into Japan have declined by 25 per cent., doubtless owing in part to the operation of the new Japanese Customs Tariff. The imports of other articles from the United Kingdom into Japan, have, however, increased considerably as compared with two years ago, the total value of all imports from this country in the first five months of this year being greater than in the corresponding period of 1010 by 12,500,000 yen, or 36 per cent. The hon. Member will be aware that steps have already been taken by the appointment of Trade Commissioners in the self-governing Dominions to promote our trade with those parts of the British Empire, and I may add that these steps have been attended by a considerable measure of success.
§ Mr. PETOCan the hon. Gentleman say whether the exports from this country to Japan which have increased are exports of manufactured goods, or of all kinds of goods?