§ 23. Mr. HANNONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the extent to which the steel pen industry in this country is suffering in consequence of the large volume of imports of steel pens from the United States into this country; and whether, seeing that the United States is this only country from which 1852 steel pens are imported into Great Britain, and that therefore there would be no breach of the convention of commerce involved, he will impose a duty of 6d. per box of 144 pens?
§ Viscount WOLMERI have had no recent complaints as to the effect of competitive imports on the steel pen industry in this country. With regard to the latter part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Budget statement made yesterday.
§ Mr. SEXTONIs the Noble Lord also aware that the original introduction of the Edison phonograph has simply ruined the Birmingham jews-harp industry?