HC Deb 28 March 1933 vol 276 cc826-8
10. Mr. CHORLTON

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the quota system that is being adopted in another Department to regulate and reduce imports will be considered with a view to using it to bring down the Japanese imports into Empire countries to the normal proportion of three years ago?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

All possible ways of dealing with this matter are being examined, and I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

Mr. CHORLTON

Will the right hon. Gentleman say how soon he will be able to make a statement, having regard to the fact that this competition is greatly affecting the interests of this country?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I am afraid that I cannot give any promise when a statement will be made, but the hon. Member knows that this is a most complicated and difficult subject to deal with.

Mr. GODFREY NICHOLSON

Cannot the Dominions deal with this matter separately?

2. Mr. HAMMERSLEY

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a decided trend towards the use of cheap Japanese cotton and woollen goods in Australia; and whether he is in communication with the Commonwealth Government on the matter?

The SECRETARY of STATE for DOMINION AFFAIRS (Mr. J. H. Thomas)

If the hon. Gentleman had been in his place to put the question he would have been told that a full reply would be given to him by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on a subsequent question. I do not feel that any useful purpose would be served at the present time by communicating with His Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth of Australia on the subject.

Mr. HAMMERSLEY

Do I take it from that reply that the situation in respect of the abnormal importation of cotton and woollen goods into Australia is well known, but that further action is being left over in view of the fact that the Board of Trade is looking into the whole matter?

Mr. THOMAS

My hon. Friend was not here to ask his question. If he had been here I should have pointed out that the full reply would have been given to him by the President of the Board of Trade in answer to a subsequent question by the hon. Member.

9. Mr. HAMMERSLEY

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now make a statement in respect to Japanese competition?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I would refer ray hon. Friend to the reply which I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Platting (Mr. Chorlton).

Mr. HAMMERSLEY

Arising out of that reply, can my right hon. Friend indicate the date on which it may be possible for me to put a question down and get a reply which will be more satisfactory, not only to this House, but to the country?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

My hon. Friend can, of course, put a question down whenever he likes, but I am afraid that I cannot promise him an earlier reply.

Sir JOSEPH NALL

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the indecision on this matter is causing great concern to the cotton trade?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

No, Sir; there is no question of indecision. The matter has been under review and examination for some little time past, and it would be a great pity to take rash and probably mistaken step.

Mr. REMER

Is not the proper remedy to denounce the Japanese Treaty and Trade Agreements?

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