§ 100. Sir W. SEAGERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the recent action of the Portuguese Government not only makes it difficult to obtain a licence to export timber, but has imposed an export duty of £1 per ton on all pitwood exported from Portugal to this country; and whether immediate action will be taken, in view of the fact that this new duty will have the effect of greatly increasing the prime cost of colliery stores, and consequently the cost of coal?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEA recent Portuguese decree has increased the export duty on pit props, but an export licence is no longer required. In view of the small proportion of our imports of pit props which is derived from Portugal (viz., only 1 per cent. of our total imports of pit props) I am disposed to think that any hon. Friend exaggerates the probable effect of the decree. I doubt in any case whether representations to the Portuguese Government in regard to the increased export duty would serve any useful purpose.
§ Sir W. SEAGERWill the hon. Gentleman bring all possible pressure to bear upon our Ally Portugal to remove these restrictions? We have a large number of sailors unemployed in Cardiff, and there are ships to carry the pit props if we can only get them?
§ Sir R. THOMASIs it not the fact that Portugal is treated by this country under the Most Favoured Nation Clause, and is it not there every reason why we should make strong representations to the Portuguese Government?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMERepresentations must always depend upon the injury done to trade by a particular action. At the present time and all through 1920 the importation of pit props from Portugal has been practically negligible, being only 1 per cent. of the total importation of pit props. I do not think that is a very strong case on which to make representations.
§ Sir W. SEAGERIs my hon. Friend aware that in pre-War days we imported into Cardiff from Portugal something like 350,000 tons?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI do not doubt that the amount was larger then than now—it was certainly a large amount. I do not think that it is a large proportion now of our total importation.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs it not desirable to protect British industry?
§ Mr. ACLANDIs the hon. Gentleman aware that if Cardiff people will pay a decent price they can get very good pit props on the other side of the Channel, in North Somerset?
Major WOODIs not this the first of the reprisals for the Anti-Dumping Bill?