I move that the Bill be now read a Second Time. The purpose of the Bill, as set out in the Explanatory Memorandum which I have circulated to Deputies, is to confirm ten Orders made by the Government under the Emergency Imposition of Duties Act, 1932. The commodities covered by the Orders are as follows:— (1) welts and welting for footwear; (2) malt extract preparations; (3) quilts and quilt covers; (4) vulcanised rubber for footwear; (5) iron and steel files; (6) artificial silk and union piece goods; (7) rubber solution; (8) buttons and button blanks; (9) woven labels; (10) electrical accessories.
The customs duties imposed on welts and welting, vulcanised rubber for footwear and electrical accessories are new protective duties. The firm engaged in the production of welts and welting was unable to develop fully owing to heavy imports. Welts and welting are used by the footwear industry as strengthening agents in the manufacture of boots and shoes. In the case of vulcanised rubber for footwear, there is a general world tendency to use substitutes for sole leather in the manufacture of footwear. One group of these substitutes consists of vulcanised rubber, including synthetic rubber and imitations thereof and a limited range of these materials is at present being produced here, and it is expected that the production of a wide range will be undertaken at Cork. With regard to electrical accessories, the production of these goods was commenced some months ago at Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim. The particular goods being produced consist of certain types of non-metal tumbler switches, switch-plates, fixing rings, outlet-sockets, outlet-plugs, ceiling roses and bayonet lampholders.
The Order dealing with malt extract preparations extended the scope of the existing customs duty on malt extract and preparations of malt extract and fish liver oil so as to include other preparations or mixtures which contain malt extract, but excluding any such preparations or mixtures imported in containers containing not more than 16 ounces. The position in regard to the existing duty was that it did not apply to malt extract or preparations of malt extract and fish liver oil to which any other substance or substances had been added. The result was that the duty was being evaded by the addition to the imported products of small quantities of other substances such as calcium, iron, etc., and it became necessary to extend the scope of the duty in order to give effective protection to the home industry. Preparations or mixtures containing malt extract imported in containers containing not more than 16 ounces were excluded from the scope of the extended duty in order to permit the free entry of genuine preparations of malt and other medicinal or vitamin substances which are made up in containers of 16 ounces or less.
A customs duty of 75 per cent. full rate, 50 per cent. preferential rate ad valorem which was imposed in 1933 on filled quilts and unfilled quilt covers was suspended in 1943 owing to the general scarcity of supplies. It was decided in October last to restore protection to the home industry, but at a reduced rate of 50 per cent. full rate, 33? per cent. preferential rate ad valorem which, it was considered, should afford adequate protection for the industry.
The manufacture of iron and steel hand files was commenced some years ago at Droichead Nua, County Kildare, and the industry was protected by an ad valorem customs duty on competing imported products. Last year, however, the continued existence of the industry was seriously threatened by intensive competition from strong external interests and it was necessary to increase the degree of protection afforded to the industry. This was done by the imposition of an additional specific duty on files.
The Order dealing with artificial silk woven piece goods and union piece goods amalgamated into one duty two separate duties on artificial silk and union piece goods and at the same time remedied certain defects in the duties which had worked to the detriment of the home manufacturers of damask ticken, interlinings and moquette. The Order also revoked the suspended customs duties on certain cotton piece goods which have been subject to import quota control for some years past.
A customs duty which was imposed on rubber solution in 1937 was suspended in 1942 owing to the general scarcity of supplies. It was decided in November last to restore protection to the home industry, but it was necessary to extend the scope of the duty because, in addition to making adhesive solutions from natural rubber, it is now the practice to use also synthetic rubber and latex and the restored duty covers solutions made from these substances as well as from natural rubber.
When the customs duty on buttons and button blanks was originally imposed in 1936 imitation mother-of-pearl buttons were excluded from the scope of the duty to permit free importation of shell buttons used mainly by the shirt manufacturers. These buttons were not then, and are not now, made here. In recent years, however, there have been considerable developments in the manufacture of buttons from plastic materials with the result that plastic buttons made to resemble mother-of-pearl were escaping payment of customs duty by qualifying for the description of "imitation mother-of-pearl". These buttons were being imported in substantial quantities to the serious detriment of the Irish button manufacturers who are in a position to produce all types of plastic buttons. Consequently it became necessary to recast the exclusion from the duty to ensure that only the shell buttons would be admitted free of duty.
The Order dealing with woven labels increased the customs duty on these goods from 33? per cent. ad valorem, flat rate, to 60 per cent., full rate, 40 per cent. preferential rate applicable to United Kingdom and Canada ad valorem. Woven garment labels are being manufactured at Miltown-Malbay, County Clare. The industry is a new one and the promoters found that no progress could be made towards developing the industry on a sound basis in the face of severe competition from large-scale continental manufacturers. It was, accordingly, necessary to afford the industry a measure of increased protection. This Bill is to give effect to the various Orders which have been made. I ask the House to give these Orders the necessary legislative sanction by approving the Bill.