§ 10. Mr. G. TERRELLasked the President of the Board of Trade the value of manufactured goods from Japan which have been imported during the months of June, July, August, and September; and 1093 whether the Government contemplate any action to protect British labour against unfair competition of Asiatic labour?
§ Sir A. GEDDESThe values of the imports from Japan of articles wholly or mainly manufactured, other than food, during the months referred to were approximately as follows:
The general trade policy of His Majesty's Government was stated by the Prime Minister before the Recess, and will be embodied in legislative proposals which will shortly be laid before the House.
£ June, 1919 700,000 July, 1919 600,000 August, 1919 430,000 September, 1919 1,000,000
§ Mr. TERRELLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the general trade policy announced by the Prime Minister was in regard to the products of Asiatic labour?
§ Mr. PEMBERTON BILLINGHas the right hon. Gentleman consulted the Minister of Labour with regard to the probable effect of these importations on unemployment in this country?
§ Sir A. GEDDESThe general trade policy, the complete trade policy, was announced by the Prime Minister, and that policy may affect Japan in connection with certain provisions which are proposed. The matter will be fully considered by the House when the legislative proposals are brought before them. With regard to the second point raised by the hon. Member (Mr. Billing), I am in frequent consultation with the Minister of Labour, but at the present time this country is suffering more from a shortage of goods than from anything else.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYHigh prices.
§ 23. Sir RICHARD COOPERasked the President of the Board of Trade what were the total imports into the United Kingdom of manufactured goods from Japan in the first nine months of 1914 and 1918?
§ Sir A. GEDDESIn the year 1914, the imports into the United Kingdom of goods classified as "wholly or mainly manufactured" which were consigned from Japan, were valued at £2,696,010, and the corresponding figure for 1918 was £15,270,947. Corresponding figures for 1094 periods other than calendar years would involve special analyses of the returns necessitating an expenditure which I am unable to justify.
Lieut.-Colonel Sir F. HALLDoes the right hon. Gentleman recognise how the fact that there has been such an enormous increase in the imports of Japanese goods —the cost of which are low because of the low amount that has to be paid for labour —affects the‡ manufacturers in this country?
§ Sir A. GEDDESThe high prices obtainable in this country, due to the shortage of supply here, attract Japanese goods. It is quite true the low cost of manufacture in Japan compensates to some extent the high freights, but this will only operate to the full extent so long as prices remain high.
Sir F. HALLDoes the right hon. Gentleman recognise that the freight in no way compares with the cost of labour?
§ Sir A. GEDDESThat depends on the class of goods.
§ 11. Mr. TERRELLasked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give any information as to the value of imported goods of German and Austrian origin for the months of September and October this year; and whether the Government have taken, or contemplate any action to secure to our national revenue, any part of the profit on such imports consequent on the depreciation of the mark?
§ Sir A. GEDDESThe value of the imports from Germany and Austria for the month of September was £90,162, and from 1st to 25th October inclusive £196,764 Powers to deal with imports from countries where the depreciation of the sterling value of the currency is not adequately compensated by increased costs of production will be included in a Bill which will shortly be laid before the House.
§ Mr. TERRELLDoes the right hon. Gentleman contemplate taking any immediate action to stop these imports, is he aware that there is a ship at Felixstowe for discharge at Harwich containing a large quantity of German goods, and is it a fact that German exporters of these goods are able to make enormous profits and seriously interfere with employment in this country?
§ Sir A. GEDDESThere can be no serious interference with employment in 1095 this country when the total value of the goods which could possibly be produced in this country is £1196,000.
Sir F. HALLDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that is only from one foreign country? Does he overlook the answer that he gave that in September from Japan £1,000,000 worth of manufactured articles came in, and is the Government going to do anything to find employment for these men?
§ Sir A. GEDDESThe best way to find employment for British industries is to encourage the development of export trade. The goods which are coming into this country are mostly of the cheaper kind, and if we were to turn our skilled people on to making the cheaper class of goods it would be less profitable than to make good-class goods and export them.
§ Mr. BILLINGIs not the most important thing to provide employment instead of giving unemployment doles?
Sir F. HALLAre we to understand that it is to be the policy of the Government not to give attention to the manufacture of articles in this country, but only to the exportation of goods?
§ Sir A. GEDDESNo, Sir; I do not suggest that the hon. and gallant Member is to understand anything of the sort. The export of goods is certainly the more important.
§ Mr. HOUSTONWhat is the right hon. Gentleman doing to encourage export trade?
§ Mr. REMERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that German machine tools can he bought at present at very much less than pre-war prices?
§ Mr. TERRELLIn view of the unsatisfactory replies which have been given to my questions, I beg to give notice that I shall ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House after questions.
§ Mr. HOUSTONWill the right hon. Gentleman reply to my question?
§ 14. Mr. REMERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the arrival on 24th October at London of the ss. "Batavia IV.," from Rotterdam, containing as its cargo a large quantity of manufactured goods of German origin, including twenty-five packages of toys; whether he can 1096 state what was the value of these toys; and whether he still adheres to his statement that manufacturers have nothing to fear from German competition?
§ Sir A. GEDDESOf the twenty-five packages of "toys" brought by the ss. Batavia IV." on the voyage referred to, eleven cases contained cheap mouth organs consigned from Germany of the value, of 11260, three cases mouth organs consigned from Holland valued at, £75, and six cases toys consigned from Holland valued at £425. No entry has yet been handed to the Customs in respect of the remaining five cases. I see no reason to modify the expression of opinion to which my hon. Friend refers.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that mouth organs are about 400 per cent. above pre-war prices, and can we have an assurance that he will not prohibit the importation of any cheap goods in order to bring down the cost of these and other articles?
§ Sir A. GEDDESI was not aware, although I dare say I could have ascertained if notice had been given me, that month organs were 400 per cent. above pre-war prices. It may be so, but I wilt look into it.
§ 15. Mr. REMERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the arrival of the ss. "C. W. Eborall," on the 18th October, from Calais, containing the following. cargo: eight packages cottons, five packages drugs, 105 packages ribbons, seventy-five packages silk manufactures, sixteen, packages woollens, twelve cases machinery parts, and sixty-four packages cotton lace; whether his attention has been called to, the arrival of the ss. "Walmer," from Boulogne, containing twenty-four packages of works of art, nine packages books, eight packages buttons, sixty-eight packages cottons, 217 packages fancy goods, four packages gloves, sixteen packages leather boots and shoes, six packages. perfumes, 229 packages silk manufactures, sixty-six packages skin manufactures, seventy packages toys, nine cases electric apparatus, seven cases prints and photographs, fifty-six packages artificial flowers, and fifty-six packages straw hats; whether any of these goods are of German origin; whether the French Government are taxing similar goods imported from Britain into France; whether they have increased 1097 their tariff since the Armistice was signed; and what steps he intends to take to protect British manufacturers and British workmen?
§ Sir A. GEDDESMy attention has not specially been drawn to the cargoes referred to in the first three parts of the question. As regards the fourth part goods of the classes indicated are subject to duty under the French Customs Tariff. As regards the fifth part there has been a general increase in the French Tariff rates, information relating to Which will be found in a White Paper (third 273) issued by the Board of Trade. As regards the sixth part, it is not the intention of His Majesty's Government to impose protective duties on French goods. The general trade policy of the Government was set out in the Prime Minister's speech in the House on 18th August and in the statement published on 23rd August.
§ 12 : Mr. REMERasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether his attention has been called to the arrival in London on the 24th October of the ss. "Florence' from Antwerp, containing as its cargo twelve packages drugs, thirty-five bundles paper, forty-three packages perfumery, five cases frames, 200 bags pepper, 117 cases window glass, eighty crates wall tiles, nine bundles woollens, and eleven cases watch work; whether any of these goods are of German origin; and whether it is the intention of the Government to permit German manufactured goods coming into this country free of duty;
(2) Whether his attention has been called to the arrival in London on the 24th October of the ss. "Benledi "from Shanghai containing as its cargo eight eases tooth brushes, eight bundles hats, and five packages silk; whether he can state what were the rates of wages paid to the workmen manufacturing these goods; and what means he intends to take to protect British labour from sweated labour in the Far East;
(3) Whether his attention has been called to the arrival of ss. "Hodder" at Goole from Antwerp, containing twenty-three cases woollen yarn, eighty cases nails, one hundred glass tumblers, eight cases plate glass, 196 packages basket ware, and one case accordions; whether any of these articles are of German origin; and whether it is his intention to permit the unrestricted import of German manufactures;
1098 (4) Whether his attention has been called to the arrival of the ss. "Perth" from Yokohama, containing twenty cases silk goods, seventy-three cases porcelain, thirty-six cases fancy goods, nineteen cases gloves, sixteen cases toys, fourteen cases rubber goods, forty-three cases glass bottles, fourteen cases glass chimneys, ten cases cycle parts, six cases buttons, twenty-six cases fans, eighty-nine cases fancy goods, and twenty-two cases music goods; whether he has information as to the value of this merchandise; whether these importations cause a depreciation in our foreign exchange; and whether steps can be taken to check these importations by imposing an import tax?
§ Sir A. GEDDESI would refer my hon. Friend to the answer to the questions asked by him on Monday last, 27th October.
§ 24. Sir R. COOPERasked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of wine imported into the United Kingdom during September last from Germany?
§ Sir A. GEDDESThe registered value of wine consigned from Germany, and imported into the United Kingdom in the month of September last, was £3,125.