§ 10. Mr. SUTCLIFFEasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what were the imports into Ceylon of cotton piece-goods from Great Britain and Japan, respectively, from the beginning of the year to the latest available date; and if he will give comparable figures for the years 1913 and 1924?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERAs the answer contains a long table of figures, with my hon. Friend's permission I will circulate these in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the table:
989| Imports of Cotton Piece Goods into Ceylon from the United Kingdom and Japan for the years* 1913 and 1924. | |||||||
| Cotton Piece Goods. | 1913. | 1924. | |||||
| Quantity in Yards. | Value in Rupees. | Quantity in Yards. | Value in Rupees. | ||||
| (a) | Bleached: | ||||||
| United Kingdom | … | … | 15,019,143 | 3,273,393 | 8,790,720 | 4,601,538 | |
| Japan | … | … | 5,940 | 1,888 | 60,450 | 17,406 | |
| (b) | Dyed: | ||||||
| United Kingdom | … | … | 11,628,439 | 2,154,039 | 3,835,097 | 2,739,827 | |
| Japan | … | … | 46,142 | 14,183 | 2,223,672 | 891,879 | |
| (c) | Gray: | ||||||
| United Kingdom | … | … | 4,206,390 | 802,307 | 2,412,682 | 1,065,062 | |
| Japan | … | … | Nil | Nil | 614,800 | 281,573 | |
| (d) | Printed: | ||||||
| United Kingdom | … | … | 8,450,204 | 1,704,286 | 5,392,774 | 2,907,654 | |
| Japan | … | … | 1,200 | 255 | 75,546 | 46,251 | |
| (e) | Muslin: | ||||||
| United Kingdom | … | … | 112,821 | 23,472 | 36,183 | 16,543 | |
| Japan | … | … | 30 | 10 | Nil | Nil | |
| (f) | Other: | ||||||
| United Kingdom | … | … | 333,180 | 621,753 | 229,189 | 196,158 | |
| Japan | … | … | 13,238 | 107,023 | 95,414 | 77,291 | |
| Totals: | |||||||
| United Kingdom | … | … | 39,750,177 | 8,579,250 | 20,696,645 | 11,526,782 | |
| Japan | … | … | 66,550 | 123,359 | 3,069,882 | 1,314,400 | |
| * Separate figures for January, 1913 and January, 1924 are not available. |
§ 11. Mr. SUTCLIFFEasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what were the exports of tea from Ceylon to countries other than Great Britain for the last available yearly period?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERDuring the year ended 31st December, 1932, the exports of tea from Ceylon to countries other than Great Britain were 80,601,298 lbs. valued at £2,557,169, out of a total export of 252,823,755 lbs., valued at £8,076,911.
§ Mr. SUTCLIFFEWill my right hon. Friend take into consideration the dissimilarity between that figure and the exports of tea from Ceylon to Great Britain?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERYes.
§ 12. Captain ELLISTONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has yet received a reply from the legislature of Ceylon to his recent telegram protesting against the denial of preferences for British cotton goods; and, if so, what is the nature of that reply?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI have received no information of any action by 990 the Ceylon State Council consequent upon my telegram to the Governor.
§ Captain ELLISTONWill the right hon. Gentleman press for an early reply to his telegram, and also point out that the Lancashire cotton industry is entitled to some preferential treatment in view of the advantage secured by Ceylon?
Sir P. CUNLIFF-LISTERIn my view the only satisfactory answer to the telegram would be the grant of preference.
§ Sir W. BRASSWill the right hon. Gentleman bring a little pressure to bear on Ceylon to that effect?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI have already indicated that Ceylon has been informed that it will be for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, not very far ahead, to consider what action should be taken.
Captain CROOKSHANKDoes not this show the disadvantage of giving rather fancy constitutions to Colonies and dependencies?