§ 14. Mr. G. TERRELLasked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give the House information of industries in this country which are being adversely affected so as to cause unemployment through the importation of foreign manufactured goods; and what course he proposes to take in regard to the matter?
§ Sir R. HORNEI have received representations from various trades as to the competition of imported goods, but it is quite impossible to attribute the present unsatisfactory position in these trades to any one cause. As regards the second part of the question, if my hon. Friend has in mind the introduction of legislation to deal with dumping and key industries, I can only refer him to the Prime Minister's statement on the subject in this House on the 28th October.
§ Mr. TERRELLCan my right hon. Friend give some definite information of the industries which are affected by importation, and some definite information as to the unemployment caused by if?
§ Sir R. HORNEI have no doubt I could give definite information if I were asked a definite question.
§ Mr. TERRELLCan my right hon. Friend give some definite information concerning the particular industries about which he states that representations have been made to him?
§ Sir R. HORNEThese are of a very wide character. Misrepresentations prevail in respect to these matters. Many people seem to regard dumping as selling at a price lower than the home price; that is quite an erroneous idea. Many people in the representations I have received, suggest anti-dumping legislation for causes which an anti-dumping Bill would not give relief at all.
§ Captain R. TERRELLCan you give a definition of dumping?
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the highly-protected tariff countries unemployment is as deeply rooted as it is here?
§ Sir R. HORNEI do not think it is necessary to reply to that question.
§ Lieut.-Colonel CROFTIs it not a fact that a very large number of ex-service men are likely to lose their employment in these industries in the near future unless action is taken, and could not the right hon. Gentleman represent to the Prime Minister the desirability of a Saturday sitting in order to pass a measure to deal with anti-dumping?
§ Mr. WALLACEMay I put one simple question: Has the right hon. Gentleman traced in his own experience any unemployment in this country directly due to dumping? [HON. MEMBERS: "Yes."]
§ Sir R. HORNEThere is undoubtedly unemployment in the country at the present time, but I cannot say what are its particular dimensions. There is unemployment due to the fact that there are foreign similar goods being sold at less prices than the home manufacturers can sell them. But you have to take a very close survey of the situation in order to design a measure which will deal with it, and the House must really have patience in this matter.
§ 16. Sir K. FRASERasked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give particulars of the manufactured goods which have been imported from Germany and Austria during the present year; whether, having regard to the state of the German exchange, such goods are imported at prices against which British labour cannot compete, with the consequent result of unemployment; and what course he proposes to take in regard to the matter?
§ Sir R. HORNEAs far as relates to imports from Germany, I will have a statement showing the principal classes of manufactured articles imported during the first nine months of the current year printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT. Particulars of imports from Austria as defined in the Treaty of Peace are, I regret to say, not available for the period in question. The bearing of the state of the exchange on the competition of German goods in the British market and the question of taking action in consequence is engaging my attention.
The statement referred to above is as follows:— 11
REGISTERED IMPORTS OF GOODS, WHOLLY OR MAINLY MANUFACTURED, INTO THE UNITED KINGDOM, CONSIGNED FROM GERMANY, DURING THE NINE MONTHS ENDED 30TH SEPTEMBER, 1920. Import List Description. Unit of Quantity. Quantity. Value. £ Glassware, domestic and fancy … … … Cwt. 69,983 386,139 " bottles and jars … … … " 158,844 235,136 Iron wire … … … … … … Ton 6,375 273,001 Hollowware of iron and steel, enamelled … … " 1,860 182,682 Clocks, complete … … … … … Number 1,177,003 383,865 Wool tops … … … … … … Centals of 100 lbs. 12.006 501,040 Woollen and worsted yarns … … … Lb. 536,047 306,207 Silk ribbons … … … … … … — — 139,403 Silk broadstuffs (mixed) … … … … Yard 2,504,213 599,373 Hosiery of cotton … … … … … — — 214,211 Coal-tar dye-stuffs … … … … … Cwt. 31,487 1,399,027 Leather, dressed: box and willow calf … … " 2,394 311,087 Paper, printing, not coated … … … " 97,190 274,626 " packing and wrapping … … … " 168,828 517,919 Motor cars, commercial … … … … Number 5,389 1,545,407 Fancy goods … … … … … … — — 284,581 Furs and skins, dressed … … … … Number 1,183,758 294,699 Musical instruments, complete … … … " 874,914 316,805 Toys and games, not of rubber or leather … — — 934,830 Other goods … … … … … … — — 8,090,755 Total imports of manufactured articles … — — 17,190,793
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs it not the fact that the Germans themselves have a very heavy export duty on their own manufactured goods in order to help to correct high prices elsewhere?
§ Sir R. HORNEIn some cases the Germans do attempt to compel the sale of goods in foreign countries at a level similar to that in the home country, the country of origin—that is undoubtedly so.
§ Mr. D. HERBERTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that while he is giving this matter his consideration a number of concerns are actually discharging workmen at the present time owing to this question of the rate of exchange?
§ Sir R. HORNEYes, but the point is why are these workmen being discharged? Why is it that these goods are not able to compete with foreign goods? You cannot deal with a matter like that without thought and careful consideration, otherwise you would be doing far more harm than good.