HC Deb 16 November 1916 vol 87 cc968-9
57. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTT

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the same article of which the import is prohibited under the designation "broom-handles" is freely admitted under the Designation "wooden tool-handles," to the injury of traders who have been prohibited from importing broom-handles; whether a Canadian firm has circularised its customers here to the effect that broom-handles can be imported under the designation "hoe-handles'; whether he now proposes to prohibit the import of tool-handles usable for brooms unless the importer signs a declaration that they will only be used for tools; by what means it is proposed to enforce this declaration after the importer has parted with the handles; and whether, in view of the impossibility of maintaining and enforcing this restriction of the use of goods after they have been imported, he will place all goods of the same intrinsic character on the same footing as regards facilities for importation whether they are described as broom-handles or tool-handles?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I have no reason to suppose that the precautions referred to in the answer which I gave to the hon. Gentleman on 17th October have been ineffective, but if I am furnished with instances of this kind of evasion of the prohibition, and, in particular, with a copy of the circular of the Canadian firm, I will consider what action should be taken.

Mr. SCOTT

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what measures it is proposed to take to enforce the guarantee that is given by importers that these goods will be used only for a specific purpose? How can he enforce that guarantee after the importers have parted with the goods?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I need hardly say that it: an importer gives a false statement as to the purpose for which the importation has taken place, he will find it difficult to get a licence in future. That alone is one of the deterrents.

Mr. SCOTT

How can the right hon. Gentleman enforce that guarantee if the importer has parted with the goods to other persons?

Mr. CHARLES DUNCAN

Write to "John Bull" about it!