JAPANESE IMPORTS. (Hansard, 14 March 1933)

HC Deb 14 March 1933 vol 275 cc1759-61 1759

§ 2. Mr. MANDER
asked the President of the Board of Trade the imports in 1932 by various parts of the British 1760 Empire from Japan; and the proportion which these bear to the total export trade of Japan?

§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Runciman)
As the answer involves a tabular statement, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

§ Following is the statement:

Statement showing the value of merchandise exported from Japan to British Empire countries during 1932, together with the proportions which these exports bear to the total export trade of Japan with countries outside the Japanese Empire.
		Thousand yen.
Total exports		1,409,992
of which exported to:—
		Proportion of total exports. Per cent.
Great Britain	59,658	4.2
Hong Kong	18,041	1.3
British India	192,492	13.7
Straits Settlements	25,550	1.8
British Borneo	51	0.0
Aden	8,307	0.6
Canada	8,562	0.6
Cape Colony and Natal	16,418	1.2
Eastern Africa	15,760	1.1
Australia	36,895	2.6
New Zealand	2,993	0.2
Total to above British Empire countries	384,727	27.3

§ Notes to the above table.

(a) The value of the total exports is in respect of merchandise exported from Japan proper to countries outside the Japanese Empire. Exports to Korea, Formosa, etc., are excluded, but those to leased territory in China are included.
(b)The British Empire countries are those distinguished in the official trade returns of Japan, particulars in respect of other British countries not being available. "Eastern Africa" is, however, included, as the trade with this area is probably mainly with British countries in East Africa.
(c)The par and average rates of exchange are as follows:

	Yen.
Par	9.763	£1.
Average rate of exchange (1932)	12.528

§ 7. Mr. ROBINSON (for Mr. CHORLTON)
asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the effect on home trade of Japanese imports into Empire countries and the failure of any attempt to stop it, he will consider giving a compensating bounty to the industries in this country?

1761

§ Mr. RUNCIMAN
I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given him on the 6th March, to which I have at present nothing to add.

§ Mr. HAMMERSLEY
Are we to understand from that reply that, however abnormal the circumstances of Japanese competition may be, no help will be forthcoming in this difficult situation?

§ Mr. RUNCIMAN
No, Sir. That would be a wrong deduction.

12. Mrs. COPELANO
asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of the china ware imported from Japan during the months of January and February; and how such imports compare with those for similar months in 1930–31?

§ Mr. RUNCIMAN
As the answer involves a number of figures I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

§ Mrs. COPELAND
May I ask my right hon. Friend whether he is aware of the seriousness of Japanese competition with English pottery, owing to the fact that the tariff to-day is considerably lower than it was under the Safeguarding Act; and is he also aware that an order given to one of our English firms was cancelled, and that it was an order for one thousand dozen cups and saucers and Japan got the order?

§ Mr. RUNCIMAN
We shall take into consideration any facts which my hon. Friend cares to lay before us.

§ Following is the answer:

§ The following table shows the total declared value of china, including translucent pottery and all pottery known as china or porcelain, other than electrical ware, imported into the United Kingdom and registered during the months of January and February of each of the years 1930, 1931 and 1933, as consigned from Japan.

Year.	January.	February.
	£	£
1930	1,441	1,994
1931	2,218	2,027
1933	5,635	1,733
Note.—The above figures for 1930 and 1931 relate to imports consigned from Japan (including Formosa and Japanese leased territories in China) while those for 1933 relate to Japan, including Formosa only.