§ Mr. REMERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether coated papers are now arriving in large and increasing quantities from Germany and Belgium; that in the month of September alone there were importations from Belgium amounting to 143 tons, and from Germany amounting to 60 tons; that the rate of exchange assists these countries in underselling British manufacturers; and whether this trade was introduced into this country during the War, and that this unfair competition is having a serious effect upon the trade, which, even without this competition, is not in a good state?
§ Sir R. HORNEDuring the month of October there was a very considerable decline in the imports of coated paper from Germany and Belgium. As regards the second part of my hon. Friend's question, the figures quoted relate, so far as I can judge, only to a portion of this trade, and I should not like to say that the statements made, in the last part of the question apply to the whole of this trade The situation arising from the state of certain of the exchanges is, as I have already said on several occasions, engaging earnest attention.