§ 10. Mr. HEPWORTHasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether his attention has been called to the fact that not a single application made to a Dominions tariff board by British exporters has yet been the subject of a decision; and whether he will make representations to the Dominions concerned as to the desirability of expediting matters?
The SECRETARY of STATE for DOMINION AFFAIRS (Mr. J. H. Thomas)My hon. Friend must, I think, be under a misapprehension. In Australia and in Canada the respective tariff boards have submitted a number of reports, which have resulted in the main in the reduction of the tariff rates on United Kingdom goods. In New Zealand, the only other Dominion concerned, the Royal Commission which has been conducting a comprehensive review of the New Zealand tariff will, it is understood, present its report shortly.
§ Mr. HOLDSWORTHIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is great dissatisfaction in the wool textile industry in Yorkshire regarding the results of the particular application made on behalf of that industry, and are the Government prepared to bring pressure upon the Canadian Government to implement the Ottawa Agreements?
§ 11 and 12. Mr. MABANEasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs (1) whether he intends to publish as a White Paper the Interim Report of the Canadian Tariff Board on the application of the wool textile industry for the grant of a preference to this country in the tariffs on wool textiles imported into Canada;
(2) whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction in all sections of the wool textile industry at the manner in which the application to the Canadian tariff board was treated; and, in view of the discontent created by the failure of the board to grant any preference, what steps he 180 proposes to ensure that home industries are not in future put to useless expense in making similar applications?
Mr. THOMASI am causing a copy of the interim report of the Canadian tariff board on wool textiles to be placed in the Library of the House. No representations have reached me on this matter. I understand that certain other applications to the Canadian tariff board are at present under consideration by the board, and there would appear to be no ground for action on my part such as is suggested in my hon. Friend's question.
§ Mr. MABANEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the serious dissatisfaction in the West Riding of Yorkshire with the manner in which this application has been treated and the feeling that West Riding industries have been put to very considerable expense to no purpose?
Mr. THOMASI hope that West Riding people will be more satisfied when they get the full report. The only report now is an interim report.
§ Mr. HOLDSWORTHIs not the interim report quite definite that the West Riding is to receive nothing from the Ottawa Agreements, and is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to tell the House that he will put pressure upon Canada to implement the Ottawa Agreements?
Mr. THOMASNo one knows better than the hon. Gentleman that the time to make any comment is when there is a full report. I would be accused of being hasty if I acted on the interim report.
§ Mr. MABANEIs it correct to say that, before the final report is submitted, the representatives of the West Riding-will be required again to send delegates to Canada? If the right hon. Gentleman could make that point clear, I think it would help very much.
§ Mr. HOLDSWORTHDoes the right hon. Gentleman mean to tell the House that a decision, after nine months' negotiation, could be termed a hasty decision?