§ 48. Sir GERVASE BECKETTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is aware of the rejection of a tender from Messrs. John Fowler and Company, of Leeds, to the Victorian Government for the, supply of four tank locomotives at £8,880 in favour of one from a local firm of 210,680; and whether, in the interests of British exporters of machinery, he will make representations in the matter?
§ 49. Mr. LUNNasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if his attention has been called to the action of the Government of Victoria in accepting a local tender for the supply of four tank locomotives at the price of £10,680 when they had a tender before them from Messrs. John Fowler, Leeds, to supply them for £8,800; and whether he will make representations to the Australian Government against the exclusion of machinery manufactured in this country?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKI have been informed by the firm referred to that the facts are as stated in the first part of the question. The matter is, however, one entirely for the Government of Victoria. It will interest the hon. Members to know that in the year ending 30th June, 1925, 371 the imports of locomotives from the United Kingdom into Australia were 91 per cent of the total.
§ Sir G. BECKETTDoes my hon. Friend not think it possible to do anything whatever to promote a better observance of the spirit of the Imperial Conference?
§ Mr. LUNNIs the hon. Gentleman aware that there are large numbers of engineers out of work in Leeds to-day, and have been for years past, and does be believe that this is the way to develop Imperial trade, and may I ask if he has seen the correspondence with Messrs. Fowler, which states that there are enormous barriers erected in Australia against all tile goods which are made by Messrs. Fowler?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKYes, I am aware of that, and I have seen the correspondence to which the hon. Member refers. I regret that this firm has lost that particular order, but perhaps the hon. Gentleman did not hear me say that of the total import into Australia of locomotives in 1925, 91 per cent. were British, and they were rather better than that in 1924. This is a special case, and I do not think we should lose sight of the general facts and figures.
§ Sir HENRY CAUTLEYWill the hon. Gentleman consider the propriety of cutting down the £500,000 that we spend on popularising Australian products here?
§ Mr. CONNOLLYCan the hon. Gentleman say if the Leeds tender included spot delivery and freightage?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKI think the Leeds tender was an f. o. r. one.
§ Mr. J. BECKETTCan the hon. Gentleman say—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThis seems to be the business of a self-governing Dominion.
§ Mr. LUNNIs not this a matter which concerns the British taxpayer, as we quote very cheap rates to Australia; and are we not financing this higher contract price of Australia against Messrs. Fowlers by our cheap loans?