HC Deb 25 February 1930 vol 235 cc2047-9
50. Mr. HACKING

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the fact that the meeting held in King Street, Manchester, on 13th January, which requested him to continue the existing Excise and Import Duties, was the monthly meeting of the directors of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, and was attended by 23 prominent business men of Lancashire; and whether, in view of the importance and representative character of this meeting and in the interest of employment in Lancashire, he will make an immediate pronouncement to the effect that these duties will be retained?

Mr. P. SNOWDEN

I am unable to add to my previous statements on this subject.

Mr. HACKING

Is it the right hon. Gentleman's view that his is the only opinion of any value?

Mr. SNOWDEN

No. In this matter, the opinion that I expressed is shared by the president and executive of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, who have expressed their gratitude to me for the statement that I made last December. In that statement, they say that I have gone out of my way to meet them, and have gone as far as it is possible for me to go. May I, while answering that question, express my gratitude to the right hon. Member for calling my attention to the fact that the resolution to which he refers in his question received only 14 votes out of 23 members present?

Mr. HACKING

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that that is a majority vote, and, further, is he aware that the President of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce has condemned in no uncertain voice the policy of the Chancellor of the Exchequer?

Mr. SNOWDEN

The president of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce wrote to me on the 24th December, and, instead of condemning my action, he said: The Chamber recognises that precedent makes it impossible for you to declare in advance whether the Budget would propose any such disturbance. Short of this, we consider that you have gone out of your way to make a statement designed to mitigate as far as possible the detrimental effects of the uncertainty which exists, and we would add that we welcome your statement, which will enable trade to continue operations to a far greater extent than would be possible in the absence of any such statement. It is recognised that the departure from precedent much have caused you considerable anxiety, and the Chamber is grateful to you.

Mr. HACKING

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that that letter is completely out of date and that the Chamber of Commerce has altered its opinion since?

Mr. SNOWDEN

It appears that 14 persons out of 23 have expressed a somewhat different view, but I am prepared to abide by the statement of the president of the Chamber of Commerce in this letter.