asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that Messrs. Laing and Company, of Wellclose Square, applied to the Dyestuffs Advisory Committee, on 17th January last, for a licence to import from Germany 2 cwt. of a- dye known as Blue De Lyon O; that permission was granted on 27th February to import 20 lbs. only; and that, on further representations from the firm, a licence was granted for an additional 36 lbs. of that dye on 7th March; whether there is any reason why the firm should be refused permission to import the balance of 1 cwt. which they still require; and whether he will take steps to prevent such unreasonable delay and consequent interference with trade in the future?

The original application was not made by the firm named, but by an importer of German dyestuffs. It subsequently appeared that the only consumer concerned were Messrs. Laing, who informed the Committee direct- that their present requirements were 56 lbs. They were allowed 20 lbs. whilst inquiries were being made as to possible British equivalents, and later the quantity was increased to the full amount required by them.

Were inquiries made from the firm as to the amount of their trade and why they required so much?

What happened was this: The firm of importers said that 2 cwt. was required by the manufacturing firm, but the manufacturing firm said that they did not require 2 cwt. but 56 1bs.

Why should the Committee go behind the application and find out who the consumer was?

In order to carry out the Act as Parliament intended.

Are these dyestuffs not available for purchase in this country?

There are now some experiments being conducted and we shall probably know the result in a very short time.

Was there any British dye that was at all like De-Lyon O and would have stood the treatment with ammonia equally well?

3. The hon. Member asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that benzoic acid, B.P., a chemical not manufactured in this country. is protected by the Dyestuffs (Import Regulation) Act. and that that chemical is required to manufacture-sodium benzoate, a substance dutiable under the Safeguarding of Industries Act; and whether, in view of the difficulty of import. which is caused by the Dyestuffs (Import. Regulation) Act in the case of benzoic acid and the consequent handicap on the manufacture of sodium benzoate, he can see his way to remove the former from the operation of the Dyestuffs (Import Regulation) Act and so to encourage the manufacture of sodium benzoate, which is regarded as a key industry?

Benzoic acid is an organic intermediate, and as such is within the scope of the Dyestuffs (Import Regulation) Act. I have no power to exempt any particular product from the operation of that Act, but licences are granted for the importation of such quantities of benzoic acid as are shown to be required for purposes other than dye-manufacture.

Was it a fact that it took so long to get the licence that the importer was forced to purchase sodium benzoate from Germany rather than wait?

Obviously, I cannot tell about a particular case without. notice, but I know that the great majority of cases are dealt with in a few days.

Are we to understand that where it is found that a commodity has been included by mistake and is never manufactured in this country, it is impossible to get the Act amended?

The hon. and gallant Member knows, I think, that the Dyestuffs Regulation Act prohibits the import of any dye without licence. Where the article cannot be procured in this country the licence is always given.

But there is a long delay?

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that last year Germany imported from this country 6·50 per cent. and Switzerland 12·21 per cent. of the total cotton greys exported from this country as compared with 1·53 per cent. and 3·23 per cent., respectively, of the total exported in 1013, and that the percentage of total goods exported as prints has fallen from 17·39 per cent. in 1913 to 12·98 per cent. in 1922; and whether, in view of these facts, he will take steps to secure the early repeal of the Dyestuffs (Import Regulation) Act, 1920?

I am aware of the facts stated in the first part of the question. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction caused by the manner in which the Dyestuffs Advisory Licensing Committee exercises its functions; whether he is aware that the Committee withholds its consent to the importation of foreign dyestuffs by demanding samples, and asking importers for the reasons why their clients cannot meet their requirements from certain British firms; and if he will state whether the Committee in making such demands are acting under the instructions of his Department?

I am unable to accept the suggestion made in the first part of the question, and, on the contrary, I am satisfied that the Committee commands the confidence of consumers generally. As regards the remainder of the question, the Committee have thought it desirable to call for certain information to enable them to give proper consideration to applications for licences.

How is an importer to supply a sample of a dye when he is not allowed to import it and has not it in his possession?

As this Committee is run by practical business men and contains a majority of colour users, I am perfectly satisfied that they conduct their business in a thoroughly practical way.

Will the right hon. Gentleman reply to the first part of my question, in which I refer to the thoroughly unsatisfactory way in which this Committee exercises its functions?

further asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the sole representative in Spain of the British Dyestuffs Corporation, Limited, is offering for sale reparation dyestuffs; if so, can he state whether such reparation dyes are sold by the corporation to their Spanish agents at the same price as to British firms; whether they are sold on behalf of the corporation's reparation agency or whether they are sold on behalf of their business as makers of dyestuffs; whether he is prepared to order an inspection of the corporation's books to ascertain the facts; and, in the event of it being found that the corporation, who, under their agreement with the Government, are prohibited from selling these reparation dyes for their own account, are disregarding this condition of the agency, is he prepared to place the agency in other hands?

I am informed by the British Dyestuffs Corporation that no reparation dyestuffs whatever have been supplied by them to their representative in Spain, whether for sale on their own account or on Government account, and that no reparation dyestuffs have been sold by them in any other way in that. country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he proposes to introduce the promised legislation relating to carriage of goods by sea, fol- lowing upon the agreement which has been arrived at between trading and shippers' organisations?

A Bill to give effect to the rules recommended by the Brussels International Conference on the subject of the carriage of goods by sea was introduced in the House of Lords yesterday.

Would the right hon. Gentleman accelerate the Bill in every way possible, as he knows the anxiety among the trading and shipping community about it?

Yes; I gave an undertaking that the Bill would be introduced in another place as rapidly as possible, and that was done yesterday, as that is the most rapid way when business is congested here.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that. the tariff on British-made steel pens imported into the United States of America has recently increased by 50 per cent., and the duty now amounts to 12 cents per box: and whether, seeing that this duty in effect closes to British pen-makers a large former market, he will consider the imposition of a reciprocal tariff on American pens which are at present imported into this country duty-free?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, a differential duty on American pens would be a breach of the Convention of Commerce of 1815 beween this country and the United States of America.

Can the right hon. Gentleman suggest any way by which the pen-makers of this country can be protected against this unfair competition?

I do not think that by question and answer I can discuss the whole tariff question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the total value of motor-cars, and parts of motor-cars, that. have been imported into this country during the current financial year; can he state the number of motor-cars that were imported: of these, how many were imported as chassis only; and how many as fully-equipped motor-cars?

Is the answer contains a table of figures, I will, with the permission of my hon. and gallant Friend, have it circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to furnish information on the sale and price of ex-enemy and other vessels disposed of by the Ministry of Shipping, and the firms to whom such vessels were sold?

The information as to the ex-enemy reparation ships for which the hon. Member asked on 11th December is now ready and is being laid on the Table. The hon. Member now asks for corresponding information about all the other ships sold by the Ministry of Shipping, that is, the standard ships, the ships that. were partly completed at the Armistice, and prizes, a total of over 700 ships, and the preparation of a detailed. return would involve a very considerable amount of labour and expense, which I do not think would he justified. All the accounts and papers relating to these transactions are examined by the Comptroller and Auditor-General.

Will the right hon. Gentleman place the Papers on the Table immediately, that is, before the Recess: and, secondly, is the information asked for with regard to ships other than ex-enemy vessels being withheld because the Board of Trade., in the interests of the shipowners, do not think it desirable to give it?

No, Sir; certainly not. The return which I have said would lay on the Table will he laid—I think it is ready now--before the House rises. There is no possible suggestion that I am holding bark anything in the interests of any shipowners. I am taking this decision in the interests of the public.

Is it possible for Members of this House to obtain any information with regard to the transactions of the Liquidation Commission so far as vessels are concerned?

Yes, Sir. But I think it would be utterly unreasonable that. a very large expense should he involved in giving information about accounts which have been checked in detail by the Comptroller and Auditor-General and have been before. the Public Accounts Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the need for revision of the apprentice system in the mercantile marine. both from the view of the boy himself and of his parents; that the parent has in most instances to pay a premium of up to £50 in order that the boy may serve a term of engagement of three or four years for a total remuneration of about £40; that the apprentice is supposed to be taken in hand by one of the senior officers and thoroughly grounded in seamanship and navigation; and that in many cases this is not done, and the apprentice is kept cleaning brass and shifting coals for excessive hours and given no chance of acquiring the knowledge which will allow him to pass his examination as second mate; and whether stricter supervision can be exercised by his Department to see that such practices are put an end to, and that the apprentice receives value for the premium his parents pay?

I am aware that complaints have been made against the system of apprenticeship in the mercantile marine on the lines indicated in the question, but I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for the Consett Division, on 7th March, dealing with this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received a request from the Mitcham Urban District Council that an inquiry shall be held into the standard price of gas in that area; the date such request was received; whether an answer has been sent, and, if so, when; and, if an answer has not been sent, when one will be sent?

Yes, Sir; the request, was received on the 25th January. It has been found necessary to frame rules governing the procedure in regard to applications of this nature under the Gas Regulation Act, 1920. These rules will be ready almost immediately, and as soon as they are ready the council will be given the opportunity of proceeding with their application.