asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether representations have been made to him to extend, by increasing or otherwise supplementing the tariff on certain imported articles, the protection afforded to the brush and broom trade; whether he is aware that previous extensions of the tariffs affecting this trade, while enabling home manufacturers to increase their output and their profits by the installation of modern machinery, actually diminished the amount of employment available in the trade for adult men; whether it was brought to his notice that the operatives are apprehensive that, if additional protection is afforded to the trade in existing circumstances, there will follow a further development of mechanisation and the consequent loss of employment for a large number of men employed on hand processes; and whether having regard to such representations he will be prepared before extending the tariffs on imported brush and broom wares to consult the men's union with a view to devising some means of providing employment in the trade for the men who are now unemployed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tariff on Brush and Broom Wares.
I do not consider that it would be in the public interest to give information in advance, indicating whether proposals for protection in particular industries have been received or to reveal in advance the nature of any representations which may have been made for or against such protection.
The Deputy appears to have been misinformed regarding the employment of adult men in the brush and broom trade. Statistics available in my Department show that employment for adult men has increased since additional protection was given to the industry in April, 1932, and on 1st September, 1934, was higher than at the corresponding date in any year since 1926, when such figures first became available.
The nature of the employment afforded by the various industries established in the Saorstát receives the constant attention of my Department, and I am, at all times, prepared to consider official representations from responsible trade unions regarding this matter.
Does the Minister contend that in respect of the largest firm in this industry there is more adult employment available now than formerly?
I am not in a position to give any information concerning an individual firm.
I should like to make it clear to the Minister that, far from being misinformed on the matter, I saw a deputation from the trade union concerned in this industry and they produced to me undeniable evidence that in respect of one firm in this industry the result of the tariffs already imposed has been the disemployment of male workers in that firm and their substitution by the employment of young girls who are employed in manipulating some of the new machines installed, and thus doing work at which men were formerly employed.
The fact is that the number of adults employed in the industry was higher on the 30th September, 1934, than at the corresponding date of any year, and my information is that the percentage of unemployed workers in the trade union which caters for such workers is now lower than it has been for some time.
Would the Minister say whether he has obtained confirmation of that statement in respect of the largest firm in the industry or from the union concerned? I want to say that my information is completely contrary to the Minister's statement.
Will the Minister say why it is not in the public interest to disclose the fact that requests had been received by him for protection in the case of a particular industry, and does he realise the position that if that fact is not disclosed the result may be that for one reason or another those who would object to protection being afforded in a particular industry have no means of making known their views?
Measures are always taken to ascertain the views of parties interested in matters of that kind, but it is obviously undesirable to indicate that proposals for protection in a particular industry had been received because it has been found by experience that in some cases this leads to forestalling.
We may take it, I presume, that the mere knowledge of the fact that requests had been made for protection is not regarded by the Company concerned as equivalent to protection being granted?
The experience of the Government has been that when a question has been referred to the Tariff Commission of a proposal for a tariff even where it was not in the least likely to be recommended, it led nevertheless, to a considerable excess of imports taking place, and as a result people were very frequently involved in losses.
If it is likely that any further tariffs are to be imposed in respect of this industry will the Minister first take some means of ascertaining whether as a result of that tariff, adult male labour will be reduced?
In this particular instance adult labour has been increased.