15. Mr. B. Harrisonasked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has made to the Canadian Government to retain the preferential duty on imported British yacht sails; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Vaughan-MorganRepresentations now would be premature. The Primary Textiles Institute of Canada has requested an increase in the British preferential duty on sails, but this request has not yet been considered by the Tariff Board.
Mr. HarrisonSurely this is the time when representations should be made, before the matter is considered by the Tariff Board, otherwise it will be too late. If this preferential duty does go, it will make it increasingly difficult for a very fine craft industry, which is exporting quite a lot to Canada, to retain its hold on that market.
§ Mr. Vaughan-MorganI am not unsympathetic to the approach of the hon. Gentleman. The Tariff Board does hold public hearings at which all the interested parties, Canadian, British, and the others, have full opportunity to make their representations for or against changes in the present duties.