§ 34. Mr. MOLSONasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether the question of increasing the labour content required to qualify for Imperial preference goods imported from the Dominions will be discussed at Ottawa; and whether the British Government accepts the view that 75 per cent. is an equitable figure of such content?
The SECRETARY of STATE for DOMINION AFFAIRS (Mr. J. H. Thomas)I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 24th May by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Sir A. Baillie).
§ Mr. HANNONWill not the question be raised at Ottawa as to the increase of British manufacture in the production of articles entitled to preference in this country?
Mr. THOMASIt is of such importance that the last Imperial Conference unanimously agreed to have a full investigation into the matter, and it is now being investigated.
§ Mr. LAMBERTWhat would be an equitable percentage of preference to give in this case?
Mr. THOMASIt would be impossible to say that, because you have to consider the reactions on the other side. For instance, if you were dealing with cotton goods, what would be the proportion when it was known in advance that the greater part of the raw material must be bought outside the Empire? That is only an indication of the difficulty.