61. Mr. Plaits-Millsasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that cash registers, assembled in the United Kingdom from parts imported from the United States of America, are being exported to Australia and are there being granted a 75 per cent. Empire preference duty; that the National Cash Register Company, which is undertaking this business, is a British subsidiary of an American corporation; that this practice is 107W harming the legitimate trade interests of British cash register manufacturers; and whether he will accordingly cease to permit the export of complete cash registers which have been assembled from imported spare parts.
§ Mr. J. EdwardsCash registers enjoy the benefit of Empire preference when imported into Australia if they achieve a 25 per cent. British content. I understand, however, that the National Cash Register Company has made substantial progress in the manufacture of cash registers in this country and that further progress may be expected. In any case, I am satisfied that to subject them to export control would not be the best way to promote our export trade.