4. Lieut.-Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLasked the Lord Privy Seal what countries he found, as the result of his investigations of the conditions of Canadian trade, were the keenest competitors of this country as regards the export to Canada of iron and steel products; and whether the ability of these countries to undercut British goods was to any considerable extent due to inferior labour conditions in the iron and steel industries?
Mr. THOMASOver 90 per cent. by value of the imports into Canada of iron and its products during the year ended 31st March, 1929, came from the United States of America. I am circulating the comparative figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I do not think this position can be attributed to any considerable extent to inferior labour conditions in that country.
Mr. THOMASIt is not for me to apportion blame. The question put to 808 me is: Is it due to inferior labour conditions? I answer by saying emphatically "No." If the hon. and gallant Gentleman wants to put a further question on any other aspect of the matter, I will answer it.
Sir F. HALLDoes the right hon. Gentleman recognise that the question I am asking is not to whom he should impute the blame? It is not a question of blame at all. Does he recognise the difficulty there is in this country in regard to the exportation of iron and steel products, and to what is it attributable?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. and gallant Gentleman must put down another question.
§ Following are the figures:
| Canada. Iron and its products. | Year ended 31st March, 1929. |
| Dollars. | |
| Total Imports of which from | 346,610,939 |
| United States | 317,089,125 |
| United Kingdom | 18,997,316 |
| Belgium | 3,679,869 |
| Germany | 3,030,229 |
| Sweden | 1,646,205 |