I move that the Bill be now read a Second Time. Deputies are aware that an Order imposing duties of this character requires to be confirmed by legislation within eight months. In January last, an Order was made imposing a customs duty on combs suitable for personal use or adornment. These combs are made by an injection moulding process from imported plastic powders and they are manufactured here on a considerable scale. The firms engaged in the business are, however, temporarily prevented from engaging in an export business. Owing to the operation of the non-discriminatory clause of the Washington Loan Agreement, the British Government has to exclude them from that country. Efforts to engage in an export trade with other countries have also been impeded by Government regulations. The import of these combs has increased considerably of late. It apparently is the practice of the trade to sell cheaply combs which are produced in a defective way by the moulding process. The importation of these slightly defective articles at low rates constitutes a form of unfair competition which is prejudicing the development of the industry here. The Government, therefore, decided to impose an ad valorem duty of 37½ per cent. or 25 per cent. preferential, which, of course, is the effective rate. That duty was imposed in consideration of the fact that the articles to be produced here are to be sold at prices which will not be in excess of the price of similar articles sold in Great Britain and it is intended to require that the same standard of efficiency in production will be maintained.
There are a number of people employed in the manufacture of these goods. It is not easy to give the precise figure because the firms making the goods make other goods as well, but one firm in the vicinity of Dublin employs 140 persons. Since the imposition of the duty, another concern has gone into the business, although I cannot give precise figures as to the employment afforded by that firm. It is located at Nenagh, County Tipperary. I think the industry is one which should be capable of efficient development here. Having regard to the abnormal circumstances which obtained in 1946 the duty was considered justifiable. In fact, imports of combs in 1946 were valued at £64,000 as compared with an imports value of something like £10,000 or £12,000 prewar. Even allowing for increased values since the war, it is obvious that abnormal importations were taking place which justified the Government in making this Order to prevent irreparable damage being done to the industry here.
