§ 81. Major M. WOODasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the principal calico printers in this country cannot maintain their export trade unless they can buy high-grade dyes essential for their products at prices at least approximately as low as the prices paid by their competitors abroad; and whether he will see that the prices at which dyes received by the Government in payment of reparation are sold in this country are not higher than the prices at which similar dyes can be obtained by dye-users in Germany, America, and other countries?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONIn reply to the first part of the question, I would point out that the cost of dyes is only one element, and, in most cases, not the principal element, and in the cost of producing the goods referred to, the prices at which German reparation dyes are sold are fixed after consultation with the manufacturing and consuming interests concerned, and approximate as closely as practicable to current market values. The suggestion, however, contained in the second part of the question would not be practicable.