18. Sir W. BARTONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the decision of the referee appointed by the Lord Chancellor under the Safeguarding of Industries Act that incandescent gas mantles, in so far as certain materials 274 used in the manufacture of the same are concerned, are liable for duty; and whether he intends to apply to the referee for his assistance, as he did in the case of santonin, to test this decision in a court of law?
§ Mr. BALDWINI am carefully considering the position created by the decision in question, but I am unable to make any statement at present.
Sir W. BARTONDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that in fact these articles have "lost their identity" when they become part of those gas mantles, and will he define the meaning of "loss of identity" for the purposes of this Act?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ARCHER-SHEEIs it not a fact that last month Germany doubled the import duty on incandescent gas mantles in order to prevent mantles manufactured in this country from going into Germany?
§ Sir RYLAND ADKINSIs it not a fact that this House deliberately decided against the inclusion of gas mantles in the first part of the Schedule?
§ Mr. KILEYWhen does the right hon. Gentleman expect to be able to give some information on this subject considering the confusion which undoubtedly exists in the trade?
§ Sir J. REMNANTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the gas mantles imported into this country from Germany in 1920 exceeded by 15 times the number imported in 1919, and that according to the "Times" Trade Supplement the imports this year equalled the total consumption of gas mantles in this country?
§ Mr. BALDWINPerhaps it would answer all the questions if I say that I only had the official decision yesterday. I am carefully considering that decision, and I hope it may be possible to arrive at a conclusion at a very early date. I quite recognise it is essential to this industry that this should be done at once.