§ Mr. JESSONasked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the official statement that the Harbours, Docks, and Piers (Temporary Increase of Charges) Bill had been drafted in order to enable dock authorities to recover, by additional charges, the cost of the minimum wage fixed by the Industrial Court for dock labour, he can give an approximate figure of the extra charges thus to be imposed; and whether the effect of these increased port charges will be similar to the imposition of an import duty or protective tariff on the imports in question?
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§ Mr. NEALIt is not possible to give even an approximate estimate of the additional dock charges that may be imposed under the Harbours, Docks and Piers (Temporary Increase of Charges) Bill. Any increases that may be granted will be based on the additional costs of working the ports, and not upon protective tariff principles.