21. Major WOODasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the German and English dyestuffs combines, I. G. Farbenindustrie A. G. and Imperial Chemical Industries, Limited, are co-operating and in some instances agreeing to the allocation of markets; and whether, in view of this fact, the Government intend to renew the Dyestuffs (Import Regulation) Act?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMI understand that agreements regarding nitrogen fertilisers 977 have been made by the Companies referred to and others, but with regard to the Dyestuffs (Import Regulation) Act, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my answer to the hon. Member for North Newcastle (Sir N. Grattan-Doyle) on 13th May.
Major WOODDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that those agreements defeat the whole purpose of this Act?
§ Mr. GRAHAMI have already indicated, in reply to numerous questions, that these facts and many others are precisely the material we must keep before us in arriving at a decision. As soon as a decision has been reached, it will be communicated to the House.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEIs not rationalisation the policy of the Government and is not this an example of rationalisation?
§ Mr. GRAHAMThat may be so, but the Dyestuffs Act raises a question of large policy concerning import prohibitions which has to be considered.
§ Major COLFOXAre we to infer from the original question that the Liberal party are drifting still further away from their original principles?