§
"That, during a period of five years beginning on the first day of July, nineteen hundred and twenty-five, there shall, on the importation into Great Britain or Northern Ireland of any of the following goods, that is to say—
Lace of cotton, silk, or other fibre, whether made by hand or by machine;
Products of the machine known as the Leaver's lace machine, the lace curtain machine, the lace net machine, or the circular lace machine;
Embroidery manufactured on net or on any fabric which, or the main part of which, is eliminated before the article reaches its final stage;
whether the goods form part of or are attached to garments or other articles or not, be charged (in addition to any customs duty payable in respect of the goods as being or containing or being made wholly or in part of silk or artificial silk) a duty of customs equal to thirty-three and one-third per cent. of the value of the goods:"
§ Resolution read a Second time.
§ Mr. RAMSAY MacDONALDI have put down an Amendment as the result of a conversational discussion in the Committee stage. I understand that the President of the Board of Trade considers the Amendment he has down in his name meets the point more adequately and equitably. In that event, I think it will save time if we only had one discussion, and I will not move.
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD OF TRADE (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister)I beg to move, in line 10, to leave out from the word "charged" to the word "a" in line 11.
I am much obliged to my right hon. Friends. I think the Amendment I put down after the discussion we had in the Committee stage more conveniently meets the case. I gave an undertaking to the Committee that it was not our intention to charge a Lace Duty in any case of more than 33⅓ per cent. recommended by the Committee, and the proviso, which I have put on the Paper, to be inserted at the end gives effect to that. What will happen under this proviso? Put into simple language, it will be as follows. If an article is made up it will pay the Lace Duty only on 243 the lace, and the appropriate Silk Duty on the balance. That is to say—assume a made-up article of which the total value is £100, the lace value in that being £10. The Lace Duty will be charged on the £10, which is the lace value, and the Silk Duty will be charged on the balance of £90, which is the value apart from the lace. In that way we shall charge exactly 334 per cent. on the lace article and the appropriate amount will be charged only on the balance distinctive from the lace. If the article is an article simply of lace and not a made-up article, we shall charge either the Lace Duty or the Silk Duty, whichever is the higher—that is to say—in no case will it bear a greater or less Duty than the 334 per cent. It is necessary to put in that way because I believe there are actually some cases where the Silk Duty might work out as a larger Duty than 334 per cent. In that case there would be no Lace Duty charged. Therefore, we are charging either on lace, as lace where it is not made up, either the Lace Duty of 334 per cent., or the Silk Duty, whichever is the higher. I think these two provisos completely give effect to the undertaking that I gave to the Committee, that it was not our intention to charge a duty as such to a greater extent than the 33⅓ per cent.
Captain BENNThe first observation I should like to make is that this Amendment as moved is textually the same Amendment that I put down two nights ago, and at which the right hon. Gentleman scoffed, saying it was absolutely impossible. He even hinted it was moved for obstructive purposes. Now he comes along, and sees that the point is a real one, and moves an Amendment textually the same as the one I put on the Paper. If he desires it, I shall be glad to have his explanation, but he knows quite well it is exactly the same Amendment that I put down.
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThen we are all satisfied.
Captain BENNI am glad the right hon. Gentleman is satisfied. I wish he had shown his satisfaction, and saved the time of the Committee by accepting my Amendment. I am not quite sure that the proviso really does exactly as intended, and I have handed in at the Table earlier in the day 244 a series of Amendments to the proviso which would have the following effect. Very briefly the point was this. The President of the Board of Trade has pledged himself not to impose a double duty; that is to say, 33⅓ per cent. shall be the only duty imposed in respect of any article of which lace is a part. But his proviso only says there shall be no double duty in respect of the Lace Duty and the Silk Duty. It is quite possible there may be other Customs duties imposed which might involve a double duty. For example, the result of giving the Lace Duty has been to move the makers of underclothing and so on to come forward and possibly to ask for and perhaps succeed in getting a duty on their products. If the President of the Board of Trade agrees that a double duty is undesirable, he will agree that a double duty under any Act of Parliament is undesirable, and not only in respect of Lace and Silk Duty. In the Safeguarding of Industries Act, Part I, there is a form of words which says that the 33⅓ per cent. in that part shall not be in addition to any other duty chargeable, and I think some such form of words should be introduced in reference to this Lace Duty. The effect of my Amendment would make the proviso read:
Provided that, in the case of any article which is chargeable both with the. lace and embroidery duty under this Resolution and with any other customs duty, the value of the lace in. the article shall he excluded in computing the value of the article for the purpose of any other duty, and in any other case any other duty shall only be charged in so far as it exceeds the lace and embroidery duty.I know it is not the right hon. Gentleman's desire to impose a double duty, whether in respect of silk or any other duty, on to the Lace Duty. If he could accept some words to this effect he would give effect to the promise which we all know it is his intention to carry out.
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERTo satisfy my hon. and gallant Friend, I really thought I had done exactly what he hoped for. Now he is asking for something quite different, and something which I am sure he will appreciate no reasonable man could be expected to give. I am dealing simply with the duties now before Parliament—the two duties, silk and lace. What he is now asking is that here and now the House should commit itself in an Act of Parliament to saying that at no 245 future time, whatever duties may in any circumstances come before the House, there shall never be two duties. In the first place, it is unnecessary to do that, because any new duty that comes before the House will come in the regular financial way, and it will then be within the full competence of the House to pronounce upon its merits. In the second place, I think it would be really futile to insert such a Clause, because it could not bind a future House if the House chose on a future date to vary the provisions here inserted. For reasons of convention and convenience I propose to ask the House to confine itself to dealing with the only duties which are now before it, namely the Silk Duty and the Lace Duty. I have completely fulfilled the undertaking I gave with regard to this, and I beg the House not to go into hypothetical future questions.
§ Mr. HARRISThis is by no means a hypothetical point. I would like to show that it is a very practical one. There are two taxes we are trying to cover—lace and silk. There is a possibility that fabric gloves may be taxed. They are commonly made of artificial silk and very often they have lace in them There has been a fashion for what is called fancy gloves that are embroidered, and thus you would have the fantastic position of an article coming within three taxations and you might find yourselves having to propose fresh legislation to deal with this particular point. Surely it is well, now that the Government has embarked on the Safeguarding of Industries Act, to make the position clear, that whatever is done there will not be an article taxed under more than one head.
§ Amendment agreed to.
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI beg to move, in line 12, at the end, to add the words
Provided that, in the case of any article which is chargeable both with the lace and embroidery duty under this Resolution and with the customs duty payable in respect of the goods as being or containing or being made wholly or in part of silk or artificial silk, if the article is a made-up article, the value of the lace in the article shall be excluded in computing the value of the article for the purpose of the silk duty, and in any other case the silk duty shall only be charged in so far as it exceeds the lace and embroidery duty.
Captain BENNAre you proposing, Mr. Speaker, to put the Amendment which I handed in at the Table earlier in the day?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI think the hon. and gallant Member took that point just now.
Captain BENNI was asking you to put the first of my small Amendments which has a definite relation to this one.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI thought these four Amendments were all part of one matter.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI feel a little doubtful whether I ought to allow words to be put in which would appear to bind a future House of Commons. The difficulty is that they have no such intention. They would not have any legislative effect if these words were put in. If the hon. Member likes, I will take his first Amendment.
Captain BENNThere is a definite precedent where the same case arose on Part I of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, where words occur which say that the duties chargeable there shall not be in addition to other duties.
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThat was-a wholly different point. There in effect the Safeguarding of Industries Act was the taxing authority, and Orders were subsequently made which merely required a Resolution of the House. Here you have an entirely distinct point where a duty is imposed by a Clause in an Act of Parliament. I submit with respect that it would be nugatory to insert any such provision in these circumstances.
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt seems to me it would not have any effect. I do not know whether that is a ground for ruling it out of order.
Captain BENNIt is a matter of some importance to those engaged in the industry, and I beg to move, as an Amendment to the proposed Amendment, in line 2, to leave out the word "the," and to insert instead thereof the words "any other."
§ Question put, "That the word 'the' stand part of the proposed Amendment."
§ The House divided: Ayes, 178; Noes, 51.
207| Division No. 156.] | AYES. | [11.40 p.m. |
| Acland-Troyte, Lieut.-Colonel | Beamish, Captain T. P. H. | Brown, Brig.-Gen. H. C. (Berks, Newb'y) |
| Ainsworth, Major Charles | Betterton, Henry B. | Buckingham, Sir H. |
| Albery, Irving James | Birchall, Major J. Dearman | Bull, Rt. Hon. Sir William James |
| Alexander, Sir Wm. (Glasgow, Cent'l) | Blades, Sir George Rowland | Burman, J. B. |
| Allen, J. Sandeman (L'pool, W. Derby) | Boothby, R. J. G. | Butler, Sir Geoffrey |
| Amery, Rt. Hon. Leopold C. M. S. | Bourne, Captain Robert Croft | Cadogan, Major Hon. Edward |
| Applin, Colonel R. V. K. | Bowater, Sir T. Vansittart | Campbell, E. T. |
| Ashley, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Wilfrid W. | Bowyer, Captain G. E. W. | Cayzer, Sir C. (Chester, City) |
| Ashmead-Bartlett, E. | Boyd-Carpenter, Major A. | Cayzer, Maj. Sir Herbt. R. (Prtsmth, S.) |
| Astor, Maj. Hon. John J. (Kent, Dover) | Brassey, Sir Leonard | Cecil, Rt. Hon. Sir Evelyn (Aston) |
| Baldwin, Rt. Hon. Stanley | Briggs, J. Harold | Chadwick, Sir Robert Burton |
| Balfour, George (Hampstead) | Briscoe, Richard George | Christie, J. A. |
| Balniel, Lord | Brocklebank, C. E. R. | Churchill, Rt. Hon. Winston Spencer |
| Barclay-Harvey, C. M. | Brooke, Brigadier-General C. R. I. | Churchman, Sir Arthur C. |
| Barnett, Major Sir Richard | Broun-Lindsay, Major H. | Clayton, G. C. |
| Barnston, Major Sir Harry | Brown, Maj. D. C. (N'th'l'd., Hexham) | Cobb, Sir Cyril |
| Cochrane, Commander Hon. A. D. | Henniker-Hughan, Vice-Adm. Sir A. | Pielou, D. P. |
| Cohen, Major J. Brunel | Herbert, Dennis (Hertford, Watford) | Power, Sir John Cecil |
| Cooper, A. Duff | Herbert, S. (York, N. R., Scar. & Wh'by) | Pownall, Lieut.-Colonel Assheton |
| Couper, J. B. | Hilton, Cecil | Preston, William |
| Courtauld, Major J. S. | Hogg, Rt. Hon. Sir D. (St. Marylebone) | Price, Major C. W. M. |
| Croft, Brigadier-General Sir H. | Holbrook, Sir Arthur Richard | Radford, E. A. |
| Crookshank, Col. C. de W. (Berwick) | Holland, Sir Arthur | Ramsden, E. |
| Crookshank, Cpt. H. (Lindsey, Gainsbro) | Holt, Capt. H. P. | Reid, D. D. (County Down) |
| Curzon, Captain Viscount | Hope, Capt. A. O. J. (Warw'k, Nun.) | Remer, J. R. |
| Dalkeith, Earl of | Hopkins, J. W. W. | Rhys, Hon. C. A. U. |
| Davidson, J. (Hertf'd, Hemel Hempst'd) | Horne, Rt. Hon. Sir Robert S. | Rice, Sir Frederick |
| Davidson, Major-General Sir John H. | Howard, Captain Hon. Donald | Robinson, Sir T. (Lanc., Stretford) |
| Davies, A. V. (Lancaster, Royton) | Hudson, Capt. A. U. M. (Hackney, N.) | Ruggles-Brise, Major E. A. |
| Davies, Maj. Geo. F. (Somerset, Yeovil) | Hudson, R. S. (Cumberl'nd, Whiteh'n) | Russell, Alexander West (Tynemouth) |
| Davies, Sir Thomas (Cirencester) | Hunter-Weston, Lt.-Gen. Sir Aylmer | Rye, F. G. |
| Davison, Sir W. H. (Kensington, S.) | Huntingfield, Lord | Salmon, Major I. |
| Dixey, A. C. | Hurd, Percy A. | Samuel, A. M. (Surrey, Farnham) |
| Doyle, Sir N. Grattan | Inskip, Sir Thomas Walker H. | Samuel, Samuel (W'dsworth, Putney) |
| Drewe, C. | Jackson, Lieut.-Colonel Hon. F. S. | Sandeman, A. Stewart |
| Eden, Captain Anthony | Jackson, Sir H. (Wandsworth, Cen'l) | Sanders, Sir Robert A. |
| Edmondson, Major A. J. | Jacob, A. E. | Sassoon, Sir Philip Albert Gustave D. |
| Elliot, Captain Walter E. | Jephcott, A. R. | Shaw, R. G. (Yorks, W.R., Sowerby) |
| England, Colonel A. | Kidd, J. (Linlithgow) | Shaw, Capt. W. W. (Wilts, Westb'y) |
| Erskine, Lord (Somerset, Weston-s-M.) | Kinloch-Cooke, Sir Clement | Sheffield, Sir Berkeley |
| Evans, Captain A. (Cardiff, South) | Lamb, J. Q. | Shepperson, E. W. |
| Everard, W. Lindsay | Lane-Fox, Lieut.-Col. George R. | Skelton, A. N. |
| Fairfax, Captain J. G. | Leigh, Sir John (Clapham) | Slaney, Major P. Kenyon |
| Falle, Sir Bertram G. | Lister, Cunliffe-, Rt. Hon. Sir Philip | Smith, R.W. (Aberd'n & Kinc'dine, C.) |
| Fanshawe, Commander G. D. | Little, Dr. E. Graham | Smith-Carington, Neville W. |
| Fermoy, Lord | Locker-Lampson, Com. O. (Handsw'th) | Smithers, Waldron |
| Fielden, E. B. | Loder, J. de V. | Somerville, A. A. (Windsor) |
| Finburgh, S. | Looker, Herbert William | Sprot, Sir Alexander |
| Fleming, D. P. | Luce, Major-Gen. Sir Richard Harman | Stanley, Lord (Fylde) |
| Ford, P. J. | Lumley, L. R. | Stanley, Col. Hon. G. F. (Will'sden, E.) |
| Forestier-Walker, Sir L. | Macdonald, Capt. P. D. (I. of W.) | Steel, Major Samuel Strang |
| Forrest, W. | Macdonald, R. (Glasgow, Cathcart) | Strickland, Sir Gerald |
| Foxcroft, Captain C. T. | McDonnell, Colonel Hon. Angus | Stuart, Hon. J. (Moray and Nairn) |
| Fraser, Captain Ian | Macintyre, Ian | Sueter, Rear-Admiral Murray Fraser |
| Fremantle, Lieut.-Colonel Francis E. | McLean, Major A. | Sugden, Sir Wilfrid |
| Gadie, Lieut. Col. Anthony | MacRobert, Alexander M. | Tasker, Major R. Inigo |
| Ganzoni, Sir John | Manningham-Buller, Sir Mervyn | Templeton, W. P. |
| Gates, Percy | Margesson, Captain D. | Thompson, Luke (Sunderland) |
| Gault, Lieut.-Col. Andrew Hamilton | Marriott, Sir J. A. R. | Thomson, F. C. (Aberdeen, South) |
| Gee, Captain R. | Mason, Lieut.-Col. Glyn K. | Thomson, Sir W. Mitchell-(Croydon, S.) |
| Gibbs, Col. Rt. Hon. George Abraham | Milne, J. S. Wardlaw- | Tinne, J. A. |
| Gilmour, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Sir John | Mitchell, S. (Lanark, Lanark) | Tichfield, Major the Marquess of |
| Glyn, Major R. G. C. | Mitchell, W. Foot (Saffron Walden) | Tryon, Rt. Hon. George Clement |
| Goff, Sir Park | Monsell, Eyres, Com. Rt. Hon. B. M. | Wallace, Captain D. E. |
| Grant, J. A. | Moore-Brabazon, Lieut.-Col. J. T. C. | Ward, Lt.-Col. A.L.(Kingston-on-Hull) |
| Greene, W. P. Crawford | Moreing, Captain A. H. | Warner, Brigadier-General W. W. |
| Gretton, Colonel John | Morrison, H. (Wilts, Salisbury) | Warrender, Sir Victor |
| Grotrian, H. Brent | Morrison-Bell, Sir Arthur Clive | Waterhouse, Captain Charles |
| Guest, Capt. Rt. Hon. F. E. (Bristol, N.) | Nall, Lieut.-Colonel Sir Joseph | Watson, Sir F. (Pudsey and Otley) |
| Guinness Rt. Hon. Walter E. | Nelson, Sir Frank | Wells, S. R. |
| Hall, Lieut.-Col. Sir F. (Dulwich) | Neville, R. J. | Wheler, Major Sir Granville C. H. |
| Hall, Capt. W. D'A. (Brecon & Rad.) | Newman, Sir R. H. S. D. L. (Exeter) | Williams, Com. C. (Devon, Torquay) |
| Hanbury, C. | Nield, Rt. Hon. Sir Herbert | Williams, Herbert G. (Reading) |
| Harland, A. | Nuttall, Ellis | Wilson, Sir C. H. (Leeds, Central) |
| Harrison, G. J. C. | O'Connor, T. J. (Bedford, Luton) | Winterton, Rt. Hon. Earl |
| Hartington, Marquess of | O'Neill, Major Rt. Hon. Hugh | Wise, Sir Fredric |
| Harvey, G. (Lambeth, Kennington) | Oakley, T. | Wood, B. C. (Somerset, Bridgwater) |
| Harvey, Majors. E. (Devon, Totnes) | Ormsby-Gore, Hon. William | Wood, E. (Chesfr, Stalyb'dge & Hyde) |
| Haslam, Henry C. | Pennefather, Sir John | Wood, Sir S. Hill- (High Peak) |
| Hawke, John Anthony | Percy, Lord Eustace (Hastings) | Woodcock, Colonel H. C. |
| Henderson. Capt. R. R. (Oxf'd, Henley) | Perkins, Colonel E. K. | |
| Henn, Sir Sydney H. | Peto, G. (Somerset, Frome) | TELLERS FOR THE AYES.— |
| Hennessy, Major J. R. G. | Philipson, Mabel | Captain Hacking and Major Cope. |
| NOES. | ||
| Adamson, Rt. Hon. W. (File, West) | Collins, Sir Godfrey (Greenock) | Gillett, George M. |
| Adamson, W. M. (Staff., Cannock) | Compton, Joseph | Graham, D. M. (Lanark, Hamilton) |
| Alexander, A. V. (Sheffield, Hillsbro') | Connolly, M. | Greenall. T. |
| Ammon, Charles George | Cowan, D. M. (Scottish Universities) | Greenwood, A. (Nelson and Colne) |
| Barnes, A. | Crawfurd, H. E. | Grenfell, D. R. (Glamorgan) |
| Barr, J. | Dalton, Hugh | Groves, T. |
| Batey, Joseph | Davies, Rhys John (Westhoughton) | Grundy, T. W. |
| Beckett, John (Gateshead) | Day, Colonel Harry | Guest, J. (York, Hemsworth) |
| Benn, Captain Wedgwood (Leith) | Duncan, C. | Guest, Dr. L. Haden (Southwark, N.) |
| Bowerman, Rt. Hon. Charles W. | Dunnico, H. | Hall, F. (York W. R., Normanton) |
| Broad, F. A. | Fenby, T. D. | Hall. G. H. (Merthyr Tydvil) |
| Bromley, J. | Garro-Jones, Captain G. M. | Hamilton, Sir R. (Orkney & Shetland) |
| Clowes, S. | George, Rt. Hon. David Lloyd | Hardie, George D. |
| Cluse, W. S. | Gibbins, Joseph | Harris, Percy A. |
| Hartshorn, Rt. Hon. Vernon | Murnin, H. | Thomson, Trevelyan (Middlesbro, W.) |
| Hayday, Arthur | Naylor, T. E. | Thorne, G. R. (Wolverhampton, E.) |
| Henderson, Rt. Hon. A. (Burnley) | Palin, John Henry | Thurtle, E. |
| Henderson, T. (Glasgow) | Paling, W. | Tinker, John Joseph |
| Hirst, G. H. | Pethick-Lawrence, F. W. | Trevelyan, Rt. Hon. C. P. |
| Hirst, W. (Bradford, South) | Potts, John S. | Varley, Frank B. |
| Hudson, J. H. (Huddersfield) | Rees, Sir Beddoe | Viant, S. P. |
| Hutchison, Sir Robert (Montrose) | Richardson, R. (Houghton-le-Spring) | Warne, G. H. |
| Jenkins, W. (Glamorgan, Neath) | Riley, Ben | Watson, W. M (Dunfermline) |
| John, William (Rhondda, West) | Ritson, J. | Watts-Morgan, Lt.-Col. O. (Rhondda) |
| Johnston, Thomas (Dundee) | Robertson, J. (Lanark, Bothwell) | Welsh, J. C. |
| Jones, Henry Haydn (Merioneth) | Robinson, W. C. (York, W. R., Elland) | Westwood, J. |
| Jones, J. J. (West Ham, Silvertown) | Rose, Frank H. | Wheatley, Rt. Hon. J. |
| Jones, Morgan (Caerphilly) | Salter, Dr. Alfred | Whiteley, W. |
| Kelly W. T. | Shiels, Dr. Drummond | Williams, C. P. (Denbigh, Wrexham) |
| Kennedy, T. | Short, Alfred (Wednesbury) | Williams, David (Swansea, East) |
| Kirkwood, D. | Simon, Rt. Hon. Sir John | Williams, Dr. J. H. (Llanelly) |
| Lansbury, George | Sinclair, Major Sir A. (Caithness) | Williams, T. (York. Don Valley) |
| Lawson, John James | Sitch, Charles H. | Wilson, C. H. (Sheffield, Attercliffe) |
| Lunn, William | Slesser, Sir Henry H. | Wilson, R. J. (Jarrow) |
| MacDonald, Rt. Hon. J. R. (Aberavon) | Smith, Ben (Bermondsey, Rotherhithe) | Windsor, Walter |
| Mackinder, W. | Snell, Harry | Wright, W. |
| MacLaren, Andrew | Snowden, Rt. Hon. Philip | Young, Robert (Lancaster, Newton) |
| Maclean, Nell (Glasgow, Govan) | Stamford, T. W. | |
| Maxton, James | Stephen, Campbell | TELLERS FOR THE NOES.— |
| Montague, Frederick | Sutton, J. E. | Mr. Parkinson and Mr. Charles |
| Morris, R. H. | Thomas, Sir Robert John (Anglesey) | Edwards. |
Question put, and agreed to.
| Division No. 157.] | AYES. | [2.22 a.m. |
| Acland-Troyte, Lieut.-Colonel | Forestier-Walker, Sir L. | Pennefather, Sir John |
| Albery, Irving James | Foxcroft, Captain C. T. | Percy, Lord Eustace (Hastings) |
| Alexander, Sir Wm. (Glasgow, Cent'l) | Gadie, Lieut.-Col. Anthony | Peto, G. (Somerset, Frome) |
| Allen, J. Sandeman (L'pool, W. Derby) | Ganzoni, Sir John | Pleiou, D. P |
| Amery, Rt. Hon. Leopold C. M. S. | Gates, Percy | Preston, William |
| Applin, Colonel R. V. K. | Gibbs. Col. Rt. Hon. George Abraham | Price, Major C. W. M. |
| Ashmead-Bartlett, E. | Gilmour, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Sir John | Radford, E. A. |
| Astor, Maj. Hn. John J. (Kent, Dover) | Goff, Sir Park | Ramsden, E. |
| Baldwin, Rt. Hon. Stanley | Grant, J. A. | Reid, Capt. A. S. C. (Warrington) |
| Balniel, Lord | Greene, W. P. Crawford | Remer, J. R. |
| Barclay-Harvey, C. M. | Hacking, Captain Douglas H. | Ruggles-Brise, Major E. A. |
| Barnett, Major Sir Richard | Hall, Capt. W. D'A. (Brecon & Rad.) | Russell, Alexander West (Tynemouth) |
| Beamish, Captain T. P. H. | Hanbury, C. | Rye, F. G. |
| Betterton, Henry B. | Harrison, G. J. C. | Salmon, Major I. |
| Boothby, R. J. G. | Hartington, Marquess of | Samuel, A. M. (Surrey, Farnham) |
| Bourne, Captain Robert Croft | Harvey, G. (Lambeth, Kennington) | Samuel, Samuel (W'dsworth, Putney) |
| Bowater, Sir T. Vansittart | Harvey, Major S. E. (Devon, Totnes) | Sandeman, A. Stewart |
| Bowyer, Captain G. E. W. | Hawke, John Anthony | Sanders, Sir Robert A. |
| Brassey, Sir Leonard | Henderson, Capt. R. R. (Oxf'd, Henley) | Sassoon, Sir Philip Albert Gustave D. |
| Briggs, J. Harold | Henniker-Hughan, Vice-Adm. Sir A. | Shaw, Lt.-Col. A. D. Mcl. (Renfrew, W) |
| Briscoe, Richard George | Herbert, Dennis (Hertford, Watford) | Shaw, R. G. (Yorks, W. R., Sowerby) |
| Brittain, Sir Harry | Herbert, S. (York, N. R., Scar. & Wh'by) | Shaw, Capt. W. W. (Wilts, Westb'y) |
| Brocklebank, C. E. R. | Hilton, Cecil | Shepperson, E. W. |
| Brooke, Brigadier-General C. R. I. | Hogg, Rt. Hon. Sir D. (St. Marylebone) | Skelton, A. N. |
| Broun-Lindsay, Major H. | Holbrook, Sir Arthur Richard | Slaney, Major P. Kenyon |
| Brown, Brig.-Gen. H. C. (Berks, Newb'y) | Holland, Sir Arthur | Slesser, Sir Henry H. |
| Burman, J. B. | Holt. Capt. H. P. | Smith, R.W. (Aberd'n & Kinc'dine, C.) |
| Butler, Sir Geoffrey | Hope, Capt. A. O. J. (Warw'k, Nun.) | Smith-Carington, Neville W. |
| Campbell, E. T. | Hopkins, J. W. W. | Smithers, Waldron |
| Chadwick, Sir Robert Burton | Howard, Captain Hon. Donald | Sprot, Sir Alexander |
| Christie, J. A. | Hudson, Capt. A. U. M. (Hackney, N.) | Stanley, Lord (Fylde) |
| Churchill, Rt. Hon. Winston Spencer | Hudson, R. S. (Cumberland, Whiteh'n) | Stanley, Col. Hon. G. F. (Will'sden, E.) |
| Churchman, Sir Arthur C. | Inskip, Sir Thomas Walker H. | Sugden, Sir Wilfrid |
| Clayton, G. C. | Jacob, A. E. | Tasker, Major R. Inigo |
| Cobb, Sir Cyril | Jephcott, A. R. | Templeton, W. P. |
| Cochrane, Commander Hon. A. D. | Kidd, J. (Linlithgow) | Thompson, Luke (Sunderland) |
| Cooper, A. Duff | Lamb, J. Q. | Thomson, F. C. (Aberdeen, South) |
| Cope. Major William | Lane-Fox, Lieut.-Col. George R. | Thomson, Sir W. Mitchell-(Croydon, S.) |
| Courtauld, Major J. S. | Lister, Cunliffe-, Rt. Hon. Sir Philip | Tinne. J. A. |
| Courthope, Lieut.-Col. Sir George L. | Little, Dr. E. Graham | Tichfield, Major the Marquess of |
| Croft, Brigadier-General Sir H. | Loder, Captain J. de V. | Tryon, Rt. Hon. George Clement |
| Crookshank, Col. C. de W. (Berwick) | Lumley, L. R. | Ward, Lt.-Col. A. L. (Kingston-on-Hull) |
| Crookshank, Cpt. H. (Lindsey, Gainsbro) | Macdonald, Capt. P. D. (I. of W.) | Warner, Brigadier-General W. W. |
| Curzon, Captain Viscount | Macdonald, R. (Glasgow, Cathcart) | Warrender, Sir Victor |
| Dalkeith, Earl of | McDonnell, Colonel Hon. Angus | Waterhouse, Captain Charles |
| Davidson, J. (Hertl'd, Hemel Hempst'd) | Macintyre, Ian | Watson, Sir F. (Pudsey and Otley) |
| Davies, A. V. (Lancaster, Royton) | McLean, Major A. | Wells, S. R. |
| Davies, Maj. Geo. F. (Somerset, Yeovil) | MacRobert, Alexander M. | Wheler, Major Sir Granville C. H. |
| Davies, Sir Thomas (Cirencester) | Manningham-Buller, Sir Mervyn | Williams, Com. C. (Devon, Torquay) |
| Dixey, A. C. | Margesson, Captain D. | Williams, Herbert G. (Reading) |
| Drewe, C. | Mason, Lieut.-Col. Glyn K. | Wilson, Sir C. H. (Leeds, Central) |
| Eden, Captain Anthony | Mitchell, S. (Lanark, Lanark) | Winterton, Rt. Hon. Earl |
| Edmondson, Major A. J. | Mitchell, W. Foot (Saffron Walden) | Wise, Sir Fredric |
| Elliot, Captain Walter E. | Monsell, Eyres, Com. Rt. Hon. B. M. | Wood, B. C. (Somerset, Bridgwater) |
| Evans, Captain A. (Cardiff, South) | Moore-Brabazon, Lt.-Col. J. T. C. | Wood, E. (Chest'r, Stalyb'dge & Hyde) |
| Everard, W. Lindsay | Morrison-Bell, Sir Arthur Clive | Woodcock, Colonel H. C. |
| Fairfax, Captain J. G. | Nall, Lieut.-Colonel Sir Joseph | |
| Fanshawe, Commander G. D. | Nelson, Sir Frank | TELLERS FOR THE AYES.— |
| Fermoy, Lord | Nuttall, Ellis | Sir Harry Barnston and Major |
| Fleming, D. P. | O'Connor, T. J. (Bedford, Luton) | Hennessy. |
| Ford, P. J. | Oakley, T. |
| NOES. | ||
| Adamson, Rt. Hon. W. (Fife, West) | Hartshorn, Rt. Hon. Vernon | Potts, John S. |
| Adamson, W. M. (Staff., Cannock) | Henderson, Right Hon. A. (Burnley) | Robinson, W. C. (Yorks, W. R., Elland) |
| Ammon, Charles George | Henderson, T. (Glasgow) | Smith, Ben (Bermondsey, Rotherhithe) |
| Barr, J. | Hirst, G. H. | Sutton, J. E. |
| Benn, Captain Wedgwood (Leith) | Hirst, W. (Bradford, South) | Thomas. Sir Robert John (Anglesey) |
| Cowan, D. M. (Scottish Universities) | Hudson, J. H. (Huddersfield) | Thomson, Trevelyan (Middlesbro. W.) |
| Crawfurd, H. E. | John, William (Rhondda, West) | Tinker, John Joseph |
| Dalton, Hugh | Jones, Henry Haydn (Merioneth) | Warne, G. H. |
| Day, Colonel Harry | Jones, J. J. (West Ham, Silvertown) | Watson, W. M. (Dunfermilne) |
| Duncan, C. | Jones, Morgan (Caerphilly) | Watts-Morgan, Lt.-Col. D. (Rhondda) |
| Edwards, C. (Monmouth, Bedwellty) | Kelly, W. T. | Welsh. J. C. |
| Fenby, T. D. | Lawson, John James | Westwood, J. |
| Garro-Jones, Captain G. M. | MacDonald, Rt. Hon. J. R.(Aberavon) | Williams, C. P. (Denbigh, Wrexham) |
| Gillett, George M. | Maclean, Nell (Glasgow, Govan) | Windsor, Walter |
| Graham, D. M. (Lanark, Hamilton) | Morris, R. H. | |
| Grundy, T. W. | Murnin, H. | TELLERS FOR THE NOES.— |
| Hall, F. (York, W. R., Normanton) | Parkinson, John Allen (Wigan) | Sir Godfrey Collins and Sir Robert |
| Hamilton, Sir R. (Orkney & Shetland) | Pethick-Lawrence, F. W. | Hutchison. |
| Harris, Percy A. |
§ Question, "That those words be there added," put, and agreed to.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House doth agree with the Committee in the Resolution, as amended."
Captain BENNIt is quite impossible to let this amended Resolution pass without at least a formal protest from the Members on this side of the House. The one or two points I intend to make will show that a key position is involved, and whatever the time of night we intend to make our protest. This is much more than merely a Resolution imposing a new duty on lace. In order to prove that I must recapitulate very briefly the history of this matter. At the General Election of 1923 the Prime Minister tried to get a majority for a tariff and he failed. At the General Election of 1924 the Prime Minister promised not to introduce a tariff under any conditions, and he succeeded. When this House met he proposed to introduce it by a Bill, but he dropped it because it would take too much time, and instead of the Bill he produced a White Paper in the same terms as would have been provided if the Bill had been brought forward. He laid it down in the White Paper that we should appoint the Committees ourselves instead of statutory Committees. No duties were to be granted unless certain conditions were fulfilled. In the Debate we had on the White Paper the President of the Board of Trade said that these conditions would have to be fulfilled, and then he said the Committee would inquire into the lace industry. It is quite true there was an earlier inquiry, but that is not the point. They were to inquire into the lace trade under the conditions of the White Paper. Hon. Members make a great mistake when they think that by mere fatigue or by shouting they will stop us. The short point is that we had the pledge of the Prime Minister that these conditions would be fulfilled, and that if they were not ful-
§ filled there would be no duty. The Committee reported that the conditions were not fulfilled, and having so reported the President of the Board of Trade proposes a duty. It is that duty that we are discussing to-night. What makes this Resolution more important than any similar Resolution is that it is the first definite breach of the Prime Minister's pledge. It is a specific breach. He said "No duty without conditions fulfilled." The Government now say there is to be a duty; that is to say there is nothing left in the way of pledges to stand between us and a tariff.
§ I observe that the organiser of the Conservative party speaking at a meeting some days ago said every business man hoped that the Government would not flinch for one moment if they thought it right to extend the Safeguarding of Industries Act in any other direction they thought necessary. That is to say the pledges of the White Paper and the terms of the Act which bound the Government are gone. Were we right or wrong in the last election when we said that the return of this Government to power meant opening the door to a protective tariff? That is what we said, and it has proved to be true. The Government has caused the introduction of the duty in these circumstances, and the Report of the Committee is torn up and the pledges of the Prime Minister and the President of the Board of Trade are destroyed. We have come to a key position which must be resisted.
§ Brigadier-General Sir HENRY CROFTSince this is a key position of Free Trade in this country, it is remarkable that is only eleven members of the Liberal Party in the House of Commons to defend it.
§ Question put, "That this House doth agree with the Committee in the Resolution, as amended."
§ The House divided: Ayes, 176; Noes, 45.
251| Division No. 158.] | AYES. | [2.37 a.m. |
| Acland-Troyte, Lieut.-Colonel | Barclay-Harvey, C. M. | Briggs, J. Harold |
| Albery, Irving James | Barnett, Major Sir Richard | Briscoe, Richard George |
| Alexander, Sir Wm. (Glasgow, Cent'l) | Barnston, Major Sir Harry | Brittain, Sir Harry |
| Allen, J. Sandeman (L'pool, W. Derby) | Beamish, Captain T. P. H. | Brocklebank, C. E. R. |
| Amery, Rt. Hon. Leopold C M. S. | Betterton, Henry B. | Brooke, Brigadier-General C. R. I. |
| Applin, Colonel R. V. K. | Boothby, R. J. G. | Broun-Lindsay, Major H. |
| Ashmead-Bartlett, E. | Bourne, Captain Robert Croft | Brown, Brig.-Gen. H. C.(Berks, Newb'y) |
| Astor, Maj. Hn. John J. (Kent, Dover) | Bowater, Sir T. Vansittart | Burman, J. B. |
| Baldwin, Rt. Hon. Stanley | Bowyer, Capt. G. E. W. | Butler, Sir Geoffrey |
| Balniel, Lord | Brassey, Sir Leonard | Campbell, E. T. |
| Chadwick, Sir Robert Burton | Hennessy, Major J. R. G. | Remer, J. R. |
| Christie, J. A. | Henniker-Hughan, Vice-Adm. Sir A. | Ruggles-Brise, Major E. A. |
| Churchill, Rt. Hon. Winston Spencer | Herbert, Dennis (Hertford, Watford) | Russell, Alexander West (Tynemouth) |
| Churchman, Sir Arthur C. | Herbert, S. (York, N. R., Scar. & Wh'by) | Rye, F. G. |
| Clayton, G. C. | Hilton, Cecil | Salmon, Major I. |
| Cobb, Sir Cyril | Hogg, Rt. Hon. Sir D. (St. Marylebone) | Samuel, A. M. (Surrey, Farnham) |
| Cochrane, Commander Hon. A. D. | Holbrook, Sir Arthur Richard | Samuel, Samuel (W'dsworth, Putney) |
| Cooper, A. Duff | Holland, Sir Arthur | Sandeman, A. Stewart |
| Cope, Major William | Holt, Capt. H. P. | Sanders, Sir Robert A. |
| Courtauld, Major J. S. | Hope, Capt. A. O. J. (Warw'k, Nun.) | Sassoon, Sir Philip Albert Gustave D |
| Courthope, Lieut.-Col. Sir George L. | Hopkins, J. W. W. | Shaw, Lt.-Col. A. D. Mcl. (Renfrew, W) |
| Croft, Brigadier-General Sir H. | Howard, Captain Hon. Donald | Shaw, R. G. (Yorks, W.R., Sowerby) |
| Crookshank, Col. C. de W. (Berwick) | Hudson, Capt. A. U. M. (Hackney, N.) | Shaw, Capt. W. W. (Wilts, Westb'y) |
| Crookshank, Cpt. H. (Lindsey, Gainsbro) | Hudson, R. S. (Cumberl'nd, Whiteh'n) | Shepperson, E. W. |
| Curzon, Captain Viscount | Inskip, Sir Thomas Walker H. | Skelton, A. N. |
| Dalkeith, Earl of | Jacob, A. E. | Slaney, Major P. Kenyon |
| Davidson, J. (Hertfd, Hemel Hempst'd) | Jephcott, A. R. | Smith, R.W. (Abcrd'n & Kinc'dine, C.) |
| Davies, A. V. (Lancaster, Royton) | Kidd, J. (Linlithgow) | Smith-Carington, Neville W. |
| Davies, Maj. Geo. F. (Somerset, Yeovil) | Lamb, J. Q. | Smithers, Waldron |
| Davies, Sir Thomas (Cirencester) | Lane-Fox, Lieut.-Col. George R. | Sprot, Sir Alexander |
| Dixey, A. C. | Lister, Cunliffe-, Rt. Hon. Sir Philip | Stanley, Lord (Fylde) |
| Drewe, C. | Little; Dr. E. Graham | Stanley, Col. Hon. G. F. (Will'sden, E.) |
| Eden, Captain Anthony | Loder, J. de V. | Sugden, Sir Wilfrid |
| Edmondson, Major A. J. | Lumley, L. R. | Tasker, Major R. Inigo |
| Elliot, Captain Walter E. | Macdonald, Capt. P. D. (I. of W.) | Templeton, W. P. |
| Evans, Captain A. (Cardiff, South) | Macdonald, R. (Glasgow, Cathcart) | Thompson, Luke (Sunderland) |
| Everard, W. Lindsay | Macintyre, Ian | Thomson, F. C. (Aberdeen, South) |
| Fairfax, Captain J. G. | McLean, Major A. | Thomson, Sir W. Mitchell- (Croydon, S.) |
| Fanshawe, Commander G. D. | MacRobert, Alexander M. | Tinne, J. A. |
| Fermoy, Lord | Manningham-Buller, Sir Mervyn | Titchfield, Major the Marquess of |
| Fleming, D. P. | Margesson, Captain D. | Tryon, Rt. Hon. George Clement |
| Ford P. J. | Mason, Lieut.-Col. Glyn K. | Ward. Lt.-Col. A. L. (Kingston-on-Hull) |
| Forestier-Walker, L. | Mitchell, S. (Lanark, Lanark) | Warner, Brigadier-General W. W. |
| Foxcroft, Captain C. T. | Mitchell, W. Foot (Saffron Walden) | Warrender, Sir Victor |
| Gadie, Lieut.-Col. Anthony | Moore-Brabazon, Lieut.-Col. J. T. C. | Waterhouse, Captain Charles |
| Ganzoni, Sir John | Morrison-Bell, Sir Arthur Clive | Watson, Sir F. (Pudsey and Otley) |
| Gates, Percy | Nail, Lieut.-Colonel Sir Joseph | Wells, S. R. |
| Gilmour, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Sir John | Nelson, Sir Frank | Wheler, Major Sir Granville C. H. |
| Goff, Sir Park | Nuttall, Ellis | Williams, Com. C. (Devon, Torquay) |
| Grant, J. A. | O'Connor, T. J. (Bedford, Luton) | Williams, Herbert G. (Reading) |
| Greene, W. P. Crawford | Oakley, T. | Wilson, Sir C. H. (Leeds, Central) |
| Hacking, Captain Douglas H. | Pennefather, Sir John | Winterton, Rt. Hon. Earl |
| Hall, Capt. W. D'A. (Brecon & Rad.) | Percy, Lord Eustace (Hastings) | Wise, Sir Fredric |
| Hanbury, C. | Peto, G. (Somerset, Frome) | Wood, B. C. (Somerset, Bridgwater) |
| Harrison, G. J. C. | Pielou, D. P. | Wood, E. (Chest'r, Stalyb'dge & Hyde) |
| Hartington, Marquess of | Preston, William | Woodcock, Colonel H. C. |
| Harvey, G. (Lambeth, Kennington) | Price, Major C. W. M. | |
| Harvey, Major S. E. (Devon, Totnes) | Radford, E. A. | TELLERS FOR THE AYES.— |
| Hawke, John Anthony | Ramsden, E. | Commander Eyres Monsell and |
| Henderson, Capt. R. R. (Oxf'd, Henley) | Reid, Capt. A. S. C. (Warrington) | Colonel Gibbs. |
| NOES. | ||
| Adamson, Rt. Hon. W. (Fife, West) | Henderson, T. (Glasgow) | Smith, Ben (Bermondsey, Rotherhithe) |
| Adamson, W. M. (Staff., Cannock) | Hirst, G. H. | Sutton, J. E. |
| Ammon, Charles George | Hirst, W. (Bradford, South) | Thomas, Sir Robert John (Anglesey) |
| Barr, J. | Hudson, J. H. (Huddersfield) | Thomson, Trevelyan (Middlesbro. W.) |
| Benn, Captain Wedgwood (Leith) | John, William (Rhondda, West) | Tinker, John Joseph |
| Cowan, D. M. (Scottish Universities) | Jones, Henry Haydn (Merioneth) | Warne, G. H. |
| Crawfurd, H. E. | Jones, J. J. (West Ham, Silvertown) | Watson, W. M. (Dunfermline) |
| Dalton, Hugh | Kelly, W. T. | Watts-Morgan, Lt.-Col. D. (Rhondda) |
| Day, Colonel Harry | Lawson, John James | Welsh, J. C. |
| Edwards C. (Monmouth, Bedwellty) | Morris, R. H. | Westwood, J. |
| Fenby, T. D. | Murnin, H. | Williams, C. P. (Denbigh, Wrexham) |
| Garro-Jones, Captain G. M. | Parkinson, John Allen (Wigan) | Windsor, Walter |
| Graham, D. M. (Lanark, Hamilton) | Pethick-Lawrence, F. W. | |
| Grundy, T. W. | Potts, John S. | TELLERS FOR THE NOES.— |
| Hall, F. (York, W. R., Normanton) | Robinson, W. C. (Yorks, W. R., Elland) | Sir Godfrey Collins and Sir Robert |
| Harris, Percy A. | Slesser, Sir Henry H. | Hutchison. |
| Henderson, Rt. Hon. A. (Burnley) |
§ Ordered, That it be an Instruction to the Committee on the Finance Bill that they have power to make provision therein pursuant to the said Resolution, as amended.