This is the fifth day on which we have been engaged in efforts to find a solution for the unemployment problem, and so far no feasible proposals have been put forward, although we had the combined attempts of every side of the House. I cannot add much to what has already been said on the subject. The speeches contributed towards finding a solution were rather disappointing. Until somebody can come forward with feasible proposals it depends upon the Government to provide immediate temporary relief for the destitution in the country. I avail of this opportunity to draw the attention of the Government to the extreme poverty that exists in Dublin. In reply to a question by me a couple of days ago the Minister for Industry and Commerce said that there were practically 8,000 seeking employment through the Dublin Labour Exchange. I hope when the Government and their officials are allocating the relief grant that fact will be taken into consideration. The majority of these people are in a most poverty-stricken state, and in fact it is impossible to find words to describe how bad their condition is. I hope a reasonable share of the grant will be devoted to the districts that are most deserving. I am aware that in various parts of the country poverty of a similar kind exists, and I hope that first consideration will be given to those districts where the poverty is greatest. I cannot suggest anything by way of a solution of the problem the Government have to tackle, but I hope they will get the support of every section of the House in their efforts to provide a solution. I wish to draw attention to the dumping of foreign-manufactured goods in the city of Dublin. We have buses coming in that cost anything from £2,000 to £2,500. These are landed at the North Wall, highly polished, varnished, upholstered and ready for the road without one halfpenny being spent on them in the Saorstát. I think the day has come to stop that. I take that kind of motor vehicle and the fancy high-priced motor car coming into the State as luxuries. I hope the Government will tax heavily all kinds of luxuries before any attempt is made to tax the foodstuffs of the people.
If we put a reasonable tariff on these foreign built buses coming into the country I am satisfied we will be able to provide employment for many hundreds of decent men who are now signing up. There is a great number of coachmakers, upholsterers, brass finishers and others ready to go to any employer who is willing to take them, but there is no encouragement given to work in this direction. Foreign manufacturers are dumping these goods freely in the City of Dublin to-day. I hope sincerely that the Government will take steps to do something in connection with these motor buses and high-priced motor cars that are coming into the country and on which a penny piece is not spent here. On a hoarding at Charlemont Bridge this morning I saw a great display of fancy and decorative posters, auctioneers' bills and others. I could not find a name on more than half of these fancy posters, some of which advertised the goods of Irish firms. I ask the Government to see, as is done in England, that the origin of all kinds of goods coming into the Free State is indicated. It is not fair to allow people who claim to be trading as Irish manufacturers to spend money on imported printed matter for the purpose of advertising Irish goods. It is not right, I think, that foreign printed matter should be allowed in for the purpose of advertising Irish goods. I noticed, in the case of a Dublin house carrying on business within a few yards of O'Connell Bridge, that the poster on which their goods are advertised is stated to have been printed in Acton. If that trader is getting a good price for his goods in this country he ought to remember the big number of printers who patronise Irish firms and are now idle. We are all aware that many firms in Dublin, drapery stores and others, which are supported by the working classes, firms in O'Connell Street, George's Street, Mary Street, etc., hand out to their customers fancy paper bags that are made in England.
The English paper industries have protection in their own country, but they have a free market here. The result is that our paper manufacturers cannot compete against them here nor can they compete against them in their own protected market. Up to about 12 months ago brown paper was imported from England into this country at roughly £20 a ton. A firm with Irish capital started to supply brown paper here, and the moment they looked for the Irish trade the foreign ring instantly dropped their price from £20 to £15 a ton, and paid £2 10s. 0d. per ton on the export of their goods here. That is to say they dropped £5 a ton in the price, while the cost of export amounted to £2 10s., making a total of £7 10s. a ton. The firms on the other side who did that still continued to charge £20 per ton in their home market, which is proof that they merely cut prices for the time being to capture the trade here. Of course, when they capture the trade here, the price will be raised again. The result is that our Irish firms are driven out of business. I hope the Government will pay some attention to this matter of unfair competition in the paper trade, and to the question of printed matter coming here. Because of it our people are unable to compete with the foreigners. They have a free market here and a protected market at home.
I appeal to the Government also to do something in connection with the woollen industry, for which Ireland was famous some years ago. Work in the woollen industries at the present time is practically at a standstill. The mills are working short time. These industries are quite capable of supplying the whole needs of the Free State with goods equal to, if not better than, the goods imported from the other side. I join with the remark that was made by the President some evenings ago that in order to remedy this state of affairs we ought to do everything possible to encourage our people to ask for Irish goods when they are spending their money. I would appeal to Deputies when they want to spend £5, £6 or £10 on a suit of clothes to ask to be shown Irish materials. I make that recommendation to Deputies in the House who possibly do not give it a thought when they are spending their money. I heard one or two Deputies during the last three or four days speak on this unemployment motion, and I do not think they had a shilling's worth on them that was made in Ireland.