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 12 Orders made by the Government under the Emergency Imposition of Duties Act, 1932. The commodities covered by the Orders are as follows:—(1) slotted metal angles; (2) glucose; (3) tableware made of earthenware; (4) artificial textile and union fabrics; (5) cellulose varnish and lacquer; (6) tipping gears for commercial motor vehicles; (7) blockboard; (8) leathercloth; (9) frilled or hemmed knitted fabrics; (10) unbound books; (11) religious books; (12) linen ply yarn and single shoe thread.
The manufacture of slotted metal angles commenced in 1952 and the duty was imposed in order to afford a measure of protection for the industry. These articles are used for a wide variety of purposes including the making of shelving, racks, metal furniture, etc. The production of glucose has been undertaken by Ceimicí Teoranta. The alcohol factories at Labbadish, County Donegal, and Corroy, County Mayo, have been adapted for the production of starch and the conversion of starch into glucose has been undertaken at Corroy.
The minimum specific duty on tableware made of earthenware was reduced from 1/6 full (1/- preferential) the article, to 9d. full (6d. preferential) the article, and certain articles which had been caught by the duty and for which duty-free licences were being issued freely were excluded from the scope of the duty. At my request the Industrial Development Authority undertook a review of the pottery industry and they found that the higher rate of duty imposed in 1953 had the effect of reducing the overall demand for earthenware. They felt that if a greater variety of earthenware was available this would provide a stimulus to the trade which would increase the overall demand including the demand for Irish tableware. The authority considered that the existing rate of duty was higher than necessary and recommended that the duty should be reduced and I accepted this recommendation.
The Order amending the duty on woven artificial textile and union fabrics arose out of a threat to local manufacturers from imports from the Far East of low priced cloths which were designed specifically to evade the duty.
In 1932 a duty was imposed on varnish at the rate of 7/6 full (5/- preferential) per gallon or 3/- full (2/- preferential) per lb. according to the form in which the varnish was imported. This duty was suspended in 1943 owing to the general scarcity of supplies. It was restored in December last for the protection of the home industry but its scope was altered to apply to clear cellulose lacquer and cellulose varnish so as to facilitate administration. The former rate of duty was changed to 75 per cent. full (50 per cent. United Kingdom and Canada) ad valorem to bring the protection into line with current money values. The scope of the duty also includes certain preparations of cellulose nitrate which the Irish firms are making and which are technically cellulose lacquer in varying degrees of concentration.
The manufacture of tipping gears for commercial motor vehicles commenced recently at Portumna. These goods were liable under the general motor car duties to rates of duty varying from nil to 33? per cent. ad valorem, dependent upon the degree of assembly at importation. It was decided to afford the new industry effective protection by imposing a duty of 50 per cent. full (33? per cent. United Kingdom and Canada) ad valorem on all tipping gears and parts thereof.
The production of blockboard commenced recently and the duty was imposed to afford protection for this new industry. Blockboard is used in the furniture trade and for domestic fittings, etc. It is of interest to note that native timber is being used to a substantial extent in the manufacture of blockboard. The manufacture of leathercloth was undertaken recently at Trim and the duty was imposed for the protection of this industry, which bases its production on cotton woven in the Irish mills.
The duty on knitted fabric (made of rayon) was being evaded by the importation of frilled, hemmed or stitched knitted fabric which is also manufactured in this country and a new duty on frilled etc. fabric was imposed to stop this evasion. The Order also gives permanent effect to the reduction in the duty on knitted fabric which was made in 1951 by an Order under the Supplies and Services Act, 1946. The duty on printed matter was amended to exclude from its scope unbound books and the duty on religious books was amended to confine its scope to the articles which are produced here, including unbound religious books.
The protection for the Irish firm producing linen thread and ply yarn was found to be defective and the Order made in respect of linen ply yarn was designed to deal with this situation. The duty on single shoe thread of 1/6 per lb. (flat) was suspended in 1944 when the material was in short supply. It has now been restored to protect the home industry and the rate changed to 60 per cent. full (40 per cent. United Kingdom and Canada) ad valorem. I think these are the items which have been covered generally by the Order.