24. Mr. T. THOMSONasked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the report made by the Chairman of the British Cotton and Wool Dyers' Association complaining of the difficulty of obtaining colours which the trade require, and also of the delay and the injurious effect resulting to the dye industry, and complaining that the mixtures offered are usually unsatisfactory, leading to considerable trouble and involving claims and consequent heavy loss; and whether, in view of the dissatisfaction now prevailing with regard to the dye question, he is prepared to appoint a committee to investigate the administration of the Dyes Regulation Act?
§ Mr. BALDWINI have read the speech to which the hon. Member refers, and the perusal of it as a whole does not suggest that there is any need for the appointment of such a committee as he proposes.
Mr. THOMSONIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are a number 1652 of cases where the proper dyes cannot be obtained owing to this restriction, and does not that hinder trade?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe hon. Gentleman must recollect that the trade is in constant communication with the Committee at my office, and if there was any strong desire for the investigation such as that advocated by the hon. Gentleman, I should certainly have heard of it. I have not been pressed on the subject at all.
§ Mr. KILEYIs the President not aware that it costs 400 per cent. to 800 per cent. more in some cases to obtain some of the dyes than in 1913?
§ Mr. BALDWINFigures are apt to be misleading!
§ Captain WEDGWOOD BENNDoes the right hon. Gentleman propose to make any comment on the resignation of Mr. Levinstein and the reasons alleged?
§ Mr. BALDWINThere is a question on that subject later.
§ 54. Major MACKENZIE WOODasked the President of the Board of Trade the weight and value of reparation dyes handed over by his Department to the Central Importing Agency during the financial year 1921–22; whether he can give the amount realised for them and the amount of commission paid to the Central Importing Agency for the sale; if he can say what commission the Central Importing Agency charge to purchasers; and whether he is now prepared to put these goods up for competitive tender rather than give the monopoly to one firm?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe quantity of reparation dyes handed over by the Board of Trade to the Central Importing Agency during the financial year 1921–22 was 686 tons, valued at 33,300,000 paper marks. The amount realised during the year 1921–22 from sales was £293,323, and the commission paid to the Central Importing Agency on those sales and in respect of services rendered in connection with dyestuffs allocated to the Dominions was £18,020. A charge is made by the Agency, on sales which they make, of 1 per cent., which is accounted for to the Board of Trade. As regards the last part of the question, I must point out that even if the reparation dyestuffs were sold by tender, as suggested by the hon. Member, 1653 some organisation would be required to carry out the services at present carried out by the Agency.