§ 40. Mr. FRANCEasked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the alarming decrease in cotton exports for March; and if he can give the House the reasons for this?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe exports of cotton yarns and fabrics in March, 1919, were higher in value than in March, 1918; amounting to £12,166,561 as compared with 2211 £10,971,506. But the quantities exported show on the whole a substantial decrease. The main reason for this decrease (which is not confined to March, but is equally true of the preceding months) is the fact that buyers are at present holding off, owing no doubt to some extent to lack of confidence in the maintenance of present prices. It is to be hoped that before long the opinion may grow that no advantage is likely to be secured by further waiting, and that business will accordingly again become active.
§ Mr. FRANCEMay I ask if the decrease in quantities is not, approximately, 100,000,000 yards for March, and is the hon. Member aware that some of this is partly due to the restrictions on exports which his Department has imposed?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI cannot answer that question offhand.
§ 41. Mr. WADDINGTONasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the feelings caused in Manchester cotton-trade circles by his decision to allow the free import of manufactured cotton goods; will he state if he consulted any associations or individuals directly connected with the cotton trade before coming to a decision; and, if so, will he give the names of the associations or individuals consulted?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe decision which has just been announced was taken after full consideration of the recommendation of the Consultative Council on Imports, who took every relevant matter into account. Representatives of the trade were consulted before the recommendation was made, but I cannot undertake to give the names.
§ 42. Mr. WADDINGTONasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will cause inquiries to be made as to the prices at which cotton manufactured goods from the United States are being offered in this country compared with the prices for the same class of goods in the United States, and if, before allowing free importation, he will make a condition that a certificate shall accompany all imports, showing the home consumption value in the country of production and the sale price in this country; and will he, where dumping is practised, refuse admission for the goods, and will he also provide for confiscation of goods where false certificates are issued?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made recently by the Leader of the House to the effect that an anti-dumping Bill was actually in print. In the circumstances, I am not prepared to anticipate the statement which will be made when the Bill is under consideration, but if my hon. Friend cares to send in any information in his possession on which the suggestions in his question are based, I shall be glad to consider it.