asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries whether he has made inquiries to enable him to make a statement regarding the proposed tax of 50/- per barrel on cured fish entering the United States.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tax on Cured Fish.
I am aware that a Committee appointed by the Government of the United States of America to consider revision of its tariff schedule has received an application for an increase of the tariff on imported salted fish to five cents per pound. The present tariff on salted fish is one cent per pound. The proposal to increase the tariff is resisted by an association of fish importers which not only opposes the increased duty, but has made an application to the Committee for the removal of the present duty of one cent per pound. The commercial representative of the Saorstát in New York has been watching the proceedings before the Tariff Committee closely, and he has been able to supply through my Department information required by the Association of Salt Fish Dealers of New York for use in making their case against the increase. The Tariff Committee will in due course make its report and recommendations to the House of Representatives and to the Senate, with whom rests the decision on the applications.