I move the following motions:—
That the Customs Duties (Brushes and Brooms) (Provisional Variation) Order, 1932, which was made on the 26th day of April, 1932, by the Executive Council under Section 1 of the Customs Duties (Provisional Imposition) Act, 1931 (No. 38 of 1931), and a copy of which was laid on the Table of Dáil Eireann on the 28th day of April, 1932, be approved.
That the Customs Duties (Brushes and Brooms) (Provisional Imposition) Order, 1932, which was made on the 26th day of April, 1932, by the Executive Council under Section 1 of the Customs Duties (Provisional Imposition) Act, 1931 (No. 38 of 1931), and a copy of which was laid on the Table of Dáil Eireann on the 28th day of April, 1932, be approved, with and subject to the modification that the following word and paragraph be added at the end of the Schedule to the said Order, that is to say—
"and
(d) toothbrushes."
It is necessary to divide the duty into two parts, one being a variation of the existing duty and the other the imposition of a new duty. I am not sure to what extent the original duty upon brushes was not imposed by accident. The late administration imposed a duty upon furniture, and the Revenue Commissioners interpreted the Resolution as applying to certain classes of household brushes. By the Provisional Order that duty was increased and made to extend to all brushes. Brush making is an old established industry in the Saorstát. There are a number of firms engaged in it, there being one very large firm in Dublin and four other firms in Dublin and in Cork. The employees in the industry number at the moment about 351. The industry is quite capable of supplying all the requirements of the country, and in consequence substantially increased employment will be given. The factories here are competent to supply brushes at the same prices as prevail at present. Consequently no increase in price should take place, and no increase is anticipated. The one modification in the duty as imposed by the original Order is to exempt toothbrushes. I have been pressed to do that, and I do so with considerable reluctance. I think there is no reason why these things should not be made here, but I have agreed to that modification.