§ 14. Mr. LYONSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the recent increase of imported foreign typewriters; and whether he proposes to take any steps in the matter?
§ Dr. BURGINI am aware that there has been an increase in the numbers of typewriters imported from foreign countries in recent months. As regards the second part of the question, it is open to the trade to make application to the Import Duties Advisory Committee for an increase in the rate of duty.
§ Mr. LYONSWhile thanking the hon. Gentleman for his reply, may I ask him whether it is not the fact that the great difference which has occurred in the rate of exchange between this country and America was not taken into account by the Committee in fixing the duty; and whether the devaluation of the American exchange does not wipe out the main material benefit which the typewriter trade had at its inception?
§ Dr. BURGINOf course, it is not possible for me to say what was in the mind of the Committee in fixing the rate of duty, but it is an interesting fact that the imports from Canada are very much smaller, the imports from Germany have remained exactly the same, and the imports from the United States show a very considerable increase.
§ Mr. LYONSIs not the fall in Canadian imports due to the fact that an end has been put to what was an obvious ramp?