OVERSEAS TRADE DEPARTMENT (SECRETARY) BILL. (Hansard, 14 March 1918)

§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND
I beg to to move, "That the Bill be now read a second time."
I have been asked just to say one word as to the reason for bringing in this Bill at the present time. That; word need only be brief, as the whole principle which underlies this Bill was debated the other day in Committee of Supply. The object of the Bill is not so much the creation of a new Department in itself as a matter of regularising procedure. The principle of the new Department was debated and an explanation given of its existence in some detail. Why the Bill is needed is because in the New Ministries Act of 1916 it is not clear whether any power was given to create a joint appointment of an Undersecretary; and, secondly, of course, the new Department is intended to be permanent, and the whole of the New Ministries Act had reference primarily to temporary Ministries and Departments created only for the period of the War. Consequently, I am sure the House will agree that far the wisest course was to regularise the proceeding, and to put the whole question beyond dispute by bringing a Bill forward in order to make the position clear and established. The object of the Department, as is known, is simply to take in hand the overseas services of the Commercial Attaches, Consuls, and Trade Commissioners, and to deal with them jointly instead by two different Departments, having, as it were, a rather debatable condominion over them. The previous procedure as to foreign trade 621 for many years had been found unsatisfactory in this country, and the division between the Foreign Office and the Board of Trade, or its equivalent, in other countries was found unsatisfactory in other countries as well, such as in both the United States and in Germany.
Therefore experience has shown everywhere that some new method of management, if possible, would be desirable. Consequently, the, expedient has been devised not by way of compromise, but as the better method of achieving results, that the two Departments interested in it should manage, the matter jointly. That is the whole essence of the existence of the new Department, and it is hoped that under such management there. may be greater efficiency for the purposes of our commerce. I am sure the House at this late hour will not want me to say more in explanation of a subject which was debated at some length in Committee of Supply. I only rose to say these few words because I would not wish the House to think there was an intention of slipping the Bill through secretly. I hope, if any hon. Member had that impression that what I have said may suffice. For the rest, I do not wish to detain the House at this late hour of the evening.

§ Mr. D. MASON
What about the amount of the salary? Is it £2,000?

§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND
It is proposed that the sum paid to the Secretary should be £2,000. That actual sum has already been paid and approved by the House in Committee of Supply when the subject was before debated.

§ Mr. T. M. HEALY
I do not rise to oppose the Bill, but I think the commercial community should be given some further time for its consideration. I must say there is a feeling as to a want of efficiency in the Departments dealing with this subject, and if we are to stereotype the same lot of fossilised officials who have hitherto had the management of this business then instead of improving overseas trade, the effect, I think, will be of a retrograde character. The Colonial Office is the greatest example of the obstruction of overseas trade in the British Empire—I do not hesitate to say. I am not in the least criticising the hon. Gentleman, but a more hide-bound Department could not possibly exist than some of the gentlemen who are at the head of the Colonial Office, and it is impossible to get anything done. 622 Instead of benefiting the overseas trade of the country, and doing anything' to-Advance it, their great idea is to obstruct, and do nothing. I could give instances of, that. Therefore, while I fully accept the statement of the hon. Gentleman that he has no intention whatever of slipping a. measure of this kind through the Houses for he is the last person to lend himself to any such procedure—Ithink sufficient time should be interposed before the Committee stage. I also say that the name of the Minister who is to have this important work ought to be known at an early date and, what is more, ought to be canvassed. If he is to be a good man, the salary to be paid to him is utterly inadequate. A salary, of £2,000 a year is a third-rate salary to a man who has to deal with this vast, Comprehensive subject, involving the super vision of hundreds of millions of money If you begin with miserable salary, a miserable view will be taken of the office, and you will not get a man of real competence to devote his time and attention to it. The salary is grossly inadequate to the greatness of the task. Also, let us know who are to be the minor officials. If you are going to pitchfork men from the Colonial Office into this job, I prophesy for it failure at the start. You are now starting on a most important and desirable reform. I say that the three Kingdoms ought to have a little further time to realise what the real scheme is, who are the officials, what has been their experience, who is to be the man at the top, and that we should approach this as being one of the most important Departments to be created in the interests of the three Kingdoms.

§ Sir W. RUTHERFORD
I should like to say to the hon. and learned Gentleman who has just spoken that this matter has received for some months past the very careful attention of the commercial community. It has been considered by the important group called the Commercial Committee of this House, who have given great attention to it in all its aspects. It has been considered by the London Chamber of Commerce, by the Associated Chambers of Commerce, by the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, and by a number of other bodies, and we are all agreed that the time has come when a measure of this kind ought to be passed in order to carry out almost all those objects which the hon. and learned Gentleman desires as much as 623 anybody else in the House. We all trust this measure may be passed at the earliest possible opportunity.