asked the Pre-dent of the Board of Trade (1) whether he is aware that the vast majority of exhibitors in this country prefer to pay more for imported carbons: whether he can state what is the object in confining inquiries to the Home section of the carbon trade;

(2) what investigations arc being made by his Department in respect to the importation of carbons; why in the Circular issued by the Industry and Trade Department a special point is made of carbons and on whose request the inquiries are being made, and why the Circular is confined to a limited number of companies; and whether any of the large societies representing the users of carbons have been approached?

Inquiries are being made as to the position and progress in this country of all the industries covered by Part I of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, including are lamp carbons; and as part of these inquiries the views of representative users of both British and foreign carbons are being sought.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, if he can state how much duty has been received on carbon importations for the year 1922 under the Safeguarding of Industries Act; and what has been the cost of collection?

The duty received in respect of imported are lamp carbons during the year 1922 under Part I of the Safeguarding of Industries Act amounted to £5,170. The cost of collection cannot be stated.