I move:—
That Dáil Éireann hereby approves of the undermentioned Order made under the Control of Imports Acts, 1934 and 1937:—
Control of Imports (Quota No. 37) (Amendment) Order, 1951.
The quota Order referred to in this resolution is that which applied to ladies' felt hats. The amendment of the Order altered the price level of hats to which the quota applied. The House may be aware of the fact that the quota Order for ladies' felt hats, originally applied before the war, contained no limitation as to the price of hats to which it applied. Under the Trade Agreement of 1938, the British trade interests were entitled to secure a review of the quota and applied for such a review, but before it was effected agreement was made between the trade interests there and the trade interests here to restrict the hats quota to hats costing less than 12/9 each. Subsequently, a further agreement between the trade interests was made and implemented last year to raise the price limit to 15/11. That as Deputies will appreciate, in view of the altered value of money, meant that the protection given to the hat-manufacturing industry here was substantially less than it was before the war and it proved ineffective in checking the decline in the industry. The amendment Order which the Dáil is now asked to confirm raises the limit to 21/-, which, while still less relatively than the limit before the war, is, it is hoped, adequate to ensure that the decline in the industry will be checked.
The House understands, of course, that, because of a change in fashion, there has been a very substantial decline in the sale of ladies felt hats. The number sold has in fact fallen by more than half. Because of the effect of the quota Order, the effect of the decline was felt almost entirely by the Irish industry, as the quota allowed the same number of hats to be imported each year. While I do not hope that, as a result of this Order or anything I can do, the fashion will change again to get ladies to wear felt hats, I hope that the effect of the Order will be to maintain the present output and maintain employment.
