§ Mr. R. C. MORRISONasked the President of the Board of Trade upon what information he based his recent calculation that the proportion of the recent advance in retail prices of shoes due to additional import duties on box and willow calf would be equivalent to about 3d. on a pair of shoes of average grade; and whether he will make further inquiries?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANWhen the additional import duty became operative in March last the average c.i.f. price of imported box and willow calf was about 11d. per square foot. I am informed that on an average 2 square feet of upper leather are used in the manufacture of a pair of shoes. The 15 per cent. increase in duty on foreign box and willow calf would accordingly be equivalent to about 3d. on a pair of shoes of average grade in which such leather is used.