asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he recommended the issue of 51 licences to import cotton thread free of duty between 15th February, 1935, and 31st January, 1936, and, if so, why he refused to recommend the issue of a licence to the applicant addressed in his letter of 5th February, 1936 (T.I.D. 1294/3046).
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Licences for Import of Cotton Thread.
The number quoted in the first part of the question is correct. The application referred to in the second part of the question was specially brought before me owing to the unusual grounds on which it was based, the basis of the application being that the company was not prepared to pay the price for Saorstát thread, which is the same as that charged to other purchasers. I could not see my way to grant a special concession and, therefore, refused a recommendation for the issue of a licence for the free importation of foreign thread.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, he has stated that the correspondence in this matter was brought before him and I would like to know if he is aware that, in fact, the Westport Thread Company offered to supply thread to the merchant referred to in the correspondence at the price of 16/9 per gross, only in the event of the merchant accepting an assortment of thread which the merchant could not sell, and the thread company wanted 18/9 a gross for reels, if they were to be supplied in accordance with the merchant's order? Is the Minister further aware that the trade of the merchant in question is carried on in a rural area, in a congested area where the people are largely very small holders and do not ordinarily have sewing machines as part of their domestic equipment and, therefore, do not require and do not buy sewing-machine thread? In the light of that fact will the Minister consider issuing a licence to merchants so circumstanced who are not in a position to buy sewing-machine thread at the same time as they buy hand-sewing thread, to import hand-sewing thread free of duty if the Westport company will not supply it at the price set out on their price lists?
The type of thread for which a licence was requested was six cord sewing cotton No. 10. It is a better article than other sewing cottons and the price s consequently dearer. The British Thread Mills and also the Irish Sewing Cotton Company supply this better thread at the same price as the cheaper threads if three types are ordered viz., No. 10, No. 36 and No. 40. I was not prepared to grant a concession to the applicant in this case which was not available to other merchants engaged in the business.
Is the Minister aware that there is no foundation for saying that it is a better thread? Thread is divided into two varieties, hand-sewing and machine-sewing. No. 10 is the variety used for hand-sewing, and Nos. 36 and 40 the varieties for machine-sewing. This latter variety is not used to any extent in the congested areas, where the people cannot afford sewing machines. It is chiefly used by people living in the comparatively wealthy areas where there are sewing machines and where the merchants can adapt their orders for thread, so as to have part of their supplies for retail to owners of sewing machines and the remainder to those who carry on hand-sewing.
Thread has been sold at the same price and under the same conditions of sale as by the British Thread Mills.
Is the Minister aware that this thread is not being sold under the same conditions of trade as applied before the Westport factory got a monopoly, and that any British thread mill would supply No. 10, No. 40 or No. 36 thread in any quantity a merchant requires? This is an entirely new departure on the part of the Irish Sewing Company dating from the 1st November, 1935. It is a great hardship on the congested areas.
The Deputy is misinformed.
The Deputy is not misinformed. I have before me the correspondence of the thread company and their quotations, and I know that every thread company will supply thread in accordance with the terms that I have put before the Minister.