§ Mr. GALBRAITHasked the President of the Board of Trade the number and value of field and opera glasses imported from France and Germany during the years 1913 and 1921, respectively, and also for the first four months of 1921 and 1922?
§ Mr. BALDWINI regret that the particulars asked for are not available.
Major BARNESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that the trade in bags fitted with small. French opera glasses is being seriously interfered with owing to the fact that similar opera glasses are not manufactured in Great Britain; that when they are imported from France there is a duty of 33;) per cent. payable, and that there is no satisfactory method of obtaining drawback on the goods being re-exported to Canada and America; and whether he will make inquiry into this matter and take action to see that established trades are not hampered by the imposing of duties on articles, not manufactured in Great Britain, which are required for carrying on other industries?
§ Mr. BALDWINOpera glasses are specifically included in the Schedule to the Safeguarding of Industries Act, and are consequently dutiable. As at present advised,.1 am not prepared to admit that there is no satisfactory method of obtaining drawback; and I see no reason in this case for any action on the lines suggested in the last part of the question.