asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, with reference to the Customs Duties (Bedsteads and Furniture) Order, 1932, he will state (1) the number of the Saorstát firms engaged in the manufacture of the protected articles, the amount of capital invested therein, the number of persons employed therein, and the value of their annual production; (2) the relative costs of production here and in Great Britain; (3) the cost of labour and rates of wages in this industry in the Saorstát as compared with such cost and rates in Great Britain; (4) the increase expected to result from the Order in the number of firms engaging in the industry, in the invested capital, in the employment given, and in annual output; (5) to what extent consumers of the articles protected by the Order can have their requirements met by home manufacturers; (6) what benefit is expected to accure to the Revenue of the Saorstát from the new duties; and (7) if any application for aid, other than the tariff, has been made to him by any of the firms now engaged in the industry, or by any person or firm proposing to engage in the industry.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bedsteads and Furniture.
There are approximately 100 firms engaged in the production of wooden furniture in the Saorstát employing a total, as on 1st September, 1931, of 1,545 workers. There are two firms in the Saorstát engaged in the manufacture of metallic bedsteads. These latter firms employed 68 workers in September, 1931. According to the Census of Production Report, 1929, the net selling value of the goods manufactured and work done by Saorstát furniture manufacturers was £560,396. The corresponding total for the year 1926 was £446,175. No official information is available as to the amount of capital invested in the industry.
According to the information in the possession of my Department, wages in this industry in the Saorstát are higher than the corresponding rates in Great Britain. The existing firms with present machinery and equipment are in a position to supply the total requirements of the country.
I am not at the moment in a position to give a final estimate of the benefit likely to accure to the Revenue from the imposition of the duty.
No application for assistance, other than the tariff, has been received by my Department from any firm or person engaged or proposing to engage in this industry.