§ 44. Major NATHANasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what criticisms he has received during the past 12 months as to the operation of the tin regulation scheme from associations of the producers or from chambers of commerce in Malaya or Nigeria; and what action he has taken thereon?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister)No criticisms have been received from Nigeria, and the only criticisms received from Malaya were resolutions against the buffer stock scheme. While opinion in Malaya was divided, there was practically unanimous support for the proposal in the other producing countries. But the preponderating argument in favour of the scheme is that it affords an insurance to users of tin against an unexpected shortage of supplies, a consideration to which they naturally attach considerable importance.
§ Mr. HERBERT WILLIAMSMay I ask my right hon. Friend whether the bulk of the criticisms on this subject have not come from speculators and would-be speculators?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI think that it is quite certain that the great majority of producers are in favour of this scheme, and the consumers are, I believe, unanimously in favour of it as giving them a very good form of insurance against a shortage.
§ 47 and 48. Major NATHANasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether since the inception of the International Tin Committee the advisory committee has comprised any representative of tin consuming industries; and, if so, who have been such representatives and during what periods;
(2) whether the Welsh Plate and Sheet Manufacturers Association has nominated a British representative of tin consuming industries to the advisory committee of the International Tin Committee and, if so, the name and qualification of such representative?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERWith the hon. and gallant Member's permission I will answer this question and No. 48 together. The International Tin Committee decided, at its meeting on the 13th of August, 1934, that it was desirable that tin consuming industries should be represented on it. Mr. John Hughes has since been appointed to represent tin consuming interests in the United States, and he attended the meeting of the International Tin Committee in Paris on the 22nd of November. The Welsh Plate and Sheet Manufacturers Association were invited to nominate a representative on the 6th of November and have since been reminded, but have not yet made an appointment.
§ Major NATHANMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is the case that since the inception of this tin restriction scheme, the tin consuming industries in this country have had no representation whatsoever upon the advisory committee?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERIt is quite true that when this scheme was originally initiated the manufacturers and consuming interests were not represented. That scheme was actually introduced by the party of my hon. Friend when they were in power. I do not make any complaint about that, because I do not think any suggestion was made of bringing them in. But when the rubber restriction scheme was introduced consumers were associated on a panel, and the International Tin Committee thought, I think very properly, that it would be convenient to follow the same course in regard to the tin scheme.
§ Major NATHANCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the tin consuming interests in this country were or were not in fact represented at any time on the advisory committee?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERNo, Sir, they were not directly represented on the advisory committee; not until this change was made.
§ Mr. THORNEIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Welsh tinplate makers think that it is advisable to have the price of tin at the lowest possible level for the purpose of expediting the export trade?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERNo, that is exactly what the consumers, either in this country or anywhere else, do not wish. They have repeatedly said that what interests them is that there should be a uniform price and an absence of speculation—a steady price and that that price should be available to the whole world—and that is the whole object of the scheme.
§ Mr. D. GRENFELLCan the right hon. Gentleman inform the House whether at any time the association of consumers in South Wales have been consulted in regard to the price of tin?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThey have been asked to appoint a member on this body.
§ Mr. GRENFELLThey have never been consulted about the prices ruling at any time.
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERSurely, the best way is to invite them to come in and be associated with the scheme.