§ 17 and 18. Mr. COCKSasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) the value of the imports of bagpipes into Canada for each of the last five years from this country and from other countries, respectively;
(2) the value of the imports into Canada for each of the last five years from the United Kingdom and from other countries, respectively, of electric storage batteries composed of plates measuring not less than 11 inches by 14 inches and ¾ of an inch thick; and whether he can give an estimate of the total annual production of these articles in this country?
§ Dr. BURGINParticulars of the imports into Canada of the articles in question are not available from the Canadian trade returns. As regards the production of electric storage batteries in this country, the particulars available do not distinguish these batteries according to the dimensions of the plates of which they are composed.
§ Mr. COCKSCan the hon. Member tell us whether any of these batteries exist, and, if so, what is the value of the preference upon them?
§ Mr. NEIL MACLEANCan the hon. Gentleman tell us what is the connection between electric storage batteries and bagpipes?
§ 58 and 59. Mr. GIBSONasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs (l) if he is aware that the exchange dumping duty imposed by Canada against imports from this country is a handicap against British goods entering Canada; and does he propose to take any steps urging Canada to implement Article 17 of the Ottawa Agreement at the earliest possible moment;
(2) if he is aware that, owing to the operation of the exchange dumping duty, 922 leathers entering Canada under the Canadian tariff Item 605, which have been reduced under the Ottawa Agreement from 15 per cent. to the free list, have now to bear an exchange dumping duty of 14 per cent.; and what steps he proposes to take with a view to importers from this country receiving 15 per cent. preference over other countries?
The SECRETARY of STATE, for DOMINION AFFAIRS (Mr. J. H. Thomas)I am aware that a special duty is still being applied to imports into Canada of goods of a class or kind made or produced in Canada imported from the United Kingdom. The question of exchange dumping duty is, as my hon. Friend states, dealt with in Article XVII of the Canadian Agreement, and I can assure him that the terms of this Article will be kept carefully in mind.
§ Mr. GIBSONHas the right hon. Gentleman given any particular attention to the fact that since he was at Ottawa, and since the Ottawa Agreements were made, sterling has gone much weaker, and the exchange dumping duty is acting adversely and much more heavily against this country, and that that obliterates entirely any preference below 15 per cent.; and will he press the Canadian Government to put Article 17 into effect immediately?
§ Mr. GIBSONWhile thanking the right hon. Gentleman for promising to keep this point carefully in mind, will he ask the Canadian Government to get a move on with regard to Article 17?
Mr. THOMASThe latter phrase I do not understand, but, if the hon. Member is asking roe to keep myself in touch with Canada on these points, certainly I will do so.