HC Deb 31 May 1938 vol 336 cc1798-9
1. Mr. Thorne

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Japanese are in the habit of giving towns and villages in Japan the names of well-known foreign manufacturing towns, with a view to misleading the buyers of Japanese products; and what action he intends taking to deal with the matter?

The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Oliver Stanley)

Allegations of the practice described by the hon. Member have occasionally been made in recent years, but, so far as my information goes, no confirmatory evidence has been obtained. If, however, the hon. Member will send me particulars of any specific cases which he has in mind, I shall be glad to consider them.

15. Mr. Kennedy

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is in a position to state the relations now existing between the owners of the Indian and Japanese textile industries and the average wage paid to the Japanese textile operatives?

Mr. Stanley

As regards the first part of the question, I am not clear what the right hon. Gentleman has in mind. As he is no doubt aware, the importation of Japanese cotton piece goods into India is regulated in relation to Japan's importation of Indian raw cotton under the provisions of the Protocol dated 12th October, 1937, regarding Commercial Relations between India and Japan (Cmd. 5600). According to statistics published by the Bank of Japan, the average daily earnings in the Japanese textile industry (including all allowances other than yearly or half-yearly bonuses) in January, 1938, were 1.408 yen for male textile workers and 0.729 yen for females: that is, at current rates of exchange, about 1s. 7¾d. and 10¼d. respectively.

16. Lieut.-Colonel Wickham

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that exports from the United Kingdom to

Table showing the total declared value of merchandise imported into and exported from the United Kingdom in trade with Germany during the undermentioned periods.
Period. Total Imports consigned from Germany. Exports consigned to Germany.
United Kingdom Produce and Manufactures. Imported Merchandise.
Twelve months ended March: £000. £000. £000
1936 … … … … 30,697 17,024 7,260
1937 … … … … 33,134 19,433 6,805
1938 … … … … 36,566 21,817 7,082