§ 113. Mr. K. Lindsayasked the President of the Board of Trade why his Department have brought pressure on manufacturers to export gold leaf, instead of allowing it to be used by publishers in this country with the object of increasing the export of books.
§ Mr. BelcherNo pressure has been exerted on manufacturers to export gold leaf at the expense of supplies for bookbinding, but it is the Government's policy to maintain, wherever possible, a flow of exports of all kinds. I am anxious that exports of books shall not be prejudiced by a shortage of gold leaf. The Board of Trade is at present in touch with the manufacturers about supplies to the book trade; in addition, inquiries are being made into the possibility of increasing total supplies.