§ 14. Lieut.-Colonel Sir J. GRIFFITHSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is in a position to make any statement in connection with the incandescent mantle industry and the un-fettered importation of German and other foreign gas mantles into this country, and the relation of such importation to existing manufacturers in this country?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe importation of incandescent gas mantles was prohibited, except under licence, until the date of the judgment of Mr. Justice Sankey in the case of the Attorney-General v. Brown. As to the immediate effect of that judgment, I can add nothing to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade in this House on the 18th December. Since the suspension of the prohibition, the total value of the imports of gas mantles to the end of February was approximately £26,000, of which about £5,000 represented the value of goods consigned directly from Germany. Inasmuch as the value of the exports of gas mantles from Germany to this country in 1913 was approximately £250,000, it is evident that the competition from German sources with United Kingdom manufacturers is not at present serious.