§ 6. Mr. WADDINGTONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Dyestuffs Development Committee is not in textile trade circles considered to be sufficiently active in promoting the development of the industry; and will he issue a Report of the work done by the Committee since it was set up?
§ Mr. BALDWINNo representations in the sense suggested by my hon. Friend have been made to me. I understand that the Committee is engaged in a very careful survey of the precise extent to which British makers are in a position to meet the requirements of British consumers of dyestuffs, in order to ascertain as definitely as possible the directions in which it is of chief importance that production should be developed. The inquiry, which is essential to the proper con- 823 sideration of the whole problem, is obviously a very difficult one, and I do not think it would be right for me to ask the Committee to issue a Report at this stage.
§ 7. Mr. WADDINGTONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Dyestuffs Licensing Advisory Committee consists of three representatives of the dye makers, five representatives of the dye users, and three independent representatives;, and whether, if some consumers of dyes, although they have a majority over the dye makers on the Committee, still complain of inability to obtain the correct dyes for their trade, they have any means through the Colour Users' Association or otherwise of changing their representatives on the Committee, considering that the Act specially protected the colour users' interests by giving them a majority over the dye makers?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe facts as to the composition of the Committee are correctly stated. Four of the five representatives of the consumers have been appointed by the Board of Trade on the nomination of the Colour Users' Association, which comprises the great majority of colour users. Should any members of the association be dissatisfied with the proceedings of these representatives it is, of course, open to them to take steps within the association with the object of bringing about a change.
§ Mr. KILEYSeeing there are representatives of the manufacturers and users on the Committee, why are there no traders?
§ 8. Mr. WADDINGTONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that British agents of German dye makers are carrying considerable stocks of German dyes, and that one list of these dyes recently issued contained details of 202 qualities, many of which are being equally efficiently made in this country; and, as the German dyes are available in quantity from these agents, how have licences been obtained to import the dyes when no bona-fide consumer desired them, and they have now to be advertised for sale?
§ Mr. BALDWINI am aware that considerable stocks of German dyes are 824 being carried by agents in this country, though the particular list mentioned by my hon. Friend has not come to my notice. During the period in which there was no restriction on importation, quantities of dyestuffs greatly in excess of current trade requirements were imported by the agents, and the prolonged trade depression has no doubt very much delayed the liquidation of the stocks.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYAre not some of these dyes reparation dyes sent into this country by way of payment?
§ Mr. BALDWINI do not think so, but I shall be glad to have notice of that question.
§ 13. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Dyestuffs Advisory Licensing Committee refuse to grant licences to firms to import lime green, in spite of the fact that British lime green of equal quality to the imported cannot be manufactured from British material; and whether he is aware that this refusal to grant licences would seriously increase the cost of production of certain classes of paint in this country, owing to the very high price of British lime green in spite of the inferior quality?
§ Mr. BALDWINI understand that this particular matter has received on several occasions the careful consideration of the Dyestuffs Advisory Licensing Committee, who, after full inquiry, are satisfied that the statements as to the inferiority of the British product are not warranted, and that the difference in price is not such as to be material.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in my own constituency orders have been lost by paint manufacturers, and unemployment caused through inability to get lime green, and will the right hon. Gentleman look into the matter again?
§ Mr. BALDWINI am aware of the allegations, because I had the pleasure some time ago of looking into the particular case to which the hon. and gallant Gentleman refers; but I cannot go into this matter behind the opinion of the Advisory Licensing Committee, which is composed of technical and other expert men.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWill the right hon. Gentleman draw the attention of the Committee to the fact that men are walking about unemployed in my constituency owing to the refusal to allow this colour to be obtained?
§ Mr. BALDWINI think the Committee are aware of the fact; it is not the only case.
§ 18. Mr. KILEYasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that Messrs. Hulse and Company applied to the Dye Advisory Committee for a licence to import rhodamine, which application was refused with the advice that they should apply to the Clayton Aniline Company, Limited; whether he is aware that the Clayton Aniline Company, Limited, are themselves importers; whether he can state what amount of dyes this firm has been permitted to import during the year ending 31st December, 1921; and whether he can say what is the object of compelling one importer to buy his goods from another importer, thus adding to the cost of the goods?
§ Mr. BALDWINThis question appears to be based on a misapprehension. The firm mentioned applied for a licence to import rhodamine B, which is manufactured in this country by the Clayton Aniline Company. No licences to import the dyestuff in question have been granted to the Clayton Aniline Company, and consequently the last part of the question does not arise.