§ 10. Mr. HOUSTONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that recently the Union of South Africa Government placed in the United States orders for 44,000 tons of rails, 1,000 cars, 250 trucks, and, in the United States and Canada, seventy large locomotives; and whether, in view of the friendly relations which exist between the Government of South Africa and the British Government, he can state the reasons for placing this important order for material in America instead of in Great Britain, seeing the necessity of finding work for our people and of maintaining the export trade of Great Britain?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Lieut.-Colonel Amery)Some of the orders mentioned were placed by the South African authorities in the United States before the Armistice at a time when it was impossible to supply railway material from this country. As regards the seventy locomotives, which have been ordered since the Armistice, I am informed that the British offers in respect both of price and of date of delivery were so unfavourable that the South African authorities felt themselves obliged to go further a field. Forty of the locomotives, however, were, I am glad to say, ordered in Canada. In view of the form of my hon. Friend's question, which seems, no doubt unintentionally, to imply that it is undesirable that the South African Government should purchase material from Canada rather than from this country, I would remind him that the policy on which the Governments of the Empire have agreed is that of preference, in contracts, to the produce and manufactures of the Empire, and not merely to those of the United Kingdom. Contractors in this country cannot expect preference from other Governments in the Empire, except as against foreign countries.
§ Mr. HOUSTONIs he aware that the price of material in the United States of America is very much lower than the price of material in this country, representing nearly £3 a ton on rails, and is that difference in price due to the high price of coal and industrial unrest in this country?
§ Lieut.-Colonel AMERYI think that question must be addressed to another Department.
§ Sir R. COOPERHas he made representations to the Board of Trade as to the very disastrous position in which our export trade is at the present time?
§ Major LLOYD-GREAMEIs it not a fact that the South African Government have done their best to place orders in this country, and entered into long negotiations with manufacturers in this, country in order, if possible, to place orders here?
§ Lieut.-Colonel AMERYI understand that was the case, and that in every sense they did their best to give preference here before, owing to difference in cost and date of deliver, they felt themselves obliged to go elsewhere.