CO885-(25-26) — Page 566

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

mmimmim CO885/25

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

146

(33) That the sale of imitation Malta lace as the genuine article be prohibited, the genuine article to be protected in Malta by a Government stamp, and that there should be Government stamps for each of the three qualities of Malta lace, also that the Industrial Board should devise a plan to unite the lace-makers on co-operative lines, in the meantime a grant to be made by Government to free them from unde- sirable middlemen. (Paragraphs 90 to 94.)

(34) That the import duty on manufactured tobacco be increased to 4s. per rotolo. (Paragraphs 97 to 100.)

(35) That the duty on imported gold and silver filigree articles under 30s. be twenty-five per cent., and that the sale of foreign articles of filigree work as of local manufacture be prohibited. (Paragraphs 101 to 103.)

(36) That the anomalies and disadvantages now existing against the develop- ment of the jewellery trade in Malta be removed. (Paragraphs 104 to 109.)

(37) That the importation of cheap artificial wines be prohibited. graph 111.)

(Para-

(38) That the exemption of ready-made boots and shoes from the five per cent. duty imposed by Ordinance III. of 1917 be removed. (Paragraph 117.)

(39) That the Imperial Government be strongly urged to allow the Dockyard in Malta to be used as a shipbuilding yard as far as naval exigencies permit, and that the suitability of Malta as a shipbuilding centre be brought to the notice of British shipbuilding firms. (Paragraph 118.)

(40) That all writs of sequestration should be valid for six months only, and that existing laws on sequestration be amended. (Paragraph 121.)

(41) That the law on hypothecary inscriptions be amended. (Paragraph 122.) (42) That the bankruptcy law be revised. (Paragraph 123.)

(43) That commercial creditors should have a preferential claim on the stock- in-trade of their debtor. (Paragraph 124.)

(44) That all business firms and names be subjected to registration. (Para- graph 125.)

(45) That the law with regard to sworn brokers be amended. (Paragraph 126.) (46) That all commission agents be licensed. (Paragraph 127.)

(47) That in any readjustment of taxation encouragement be given to local industries. (Paragraphs 128 to 130.)

132. We place ourselves at Your Excellency's disposal to give concrete shape to of the suggestions and recommendations contained in this report, which neces- sarily are only indicated on broad lines.

any

133. We desire to bring to the notice of Your Excellency the invaluable assistance rendered by our Secretary, whose ability and untiring energy have been to us of the greatest help.

Our best thanks are also due to the Chamber of Commerce for having kindly allowed the use of the Exchange for the meetings of the Committee, and also to the several gentlemen who have given us valuable information.

We have, &c.,

A. PARNIS,

Chairman. THOв. C. SMITH. Jos. HOWARD. WILLIAM GOLLCHER.

H. L. W. HARE.

ROB. J. BRIFFA.

F. W. PATERSON.

147

+593

Paragraph 92.—“ The Industrial Board should have power to inspect shops and prosecute the offenders."

I suggest that the above paragraph be omitted in its entirety, as no proposal as to places where the sale of Malta and Gozo lace may be allowed has been made. Experience has shown that Maltese lace is sold in bazaars, Indian establishments, and other shops, where also foreign lace, especially Nottingham lace, is disposed of. Malta lace is also sold by ambulant vendors, both men and women, who go round private houses, hotels, military barracks, on board ships, public places, etc.

The inspection of shops, besides being odious, interferes with the development of the lace industry. As far as my knowledge goes it has never been proved that imitation has been sold for Malta lace; and when some time ago the Government had appointed a Commission for the purpose of inquiring into the matter, the lace merchants, who were invited to give evidence, were unanimous in pronouncing against all sorts of restrictions and payment for the stamping of the lace.

Paragraph 103, Jewellery.-I cannot agree to the levying of an increased duty on imported articles of jewellery, gold, and silver. An ad valorem duty of twenty-five per cent. is out of the question. While enhancing the cost of the article to the purchaser by one-fourth of its value, it will have no practical result, for the following reasons, viz. :—

(1) That twenty-five per cent. is insufficient to protect the Maltese manufac- turers when, as is well known, his foreign rival can sell his goods at much lower prices.

(2) That the Malta manufacturers do not possess the artistic gift or the machinery requisite to produce articles that can compete with those imported from England, France, Italy, Switzerland, and even Germany. On the other hand, a duty higher than five per cent. would be prohibitive, and would simply lead to the closing of all the jeweller's shops in Malta who deal in gold and silver imported articles.

Paragraph 117, Boots and Shoes. A protective duty on imported boots and shoes. if it is to protect at all the Maltese shoe industry, must be of seventy-five per cent., for the reason that the imported article is not equal in quality and workmanship to that manufactured locally. Such a duty, while benefiting the local shoemaker, would bring a total ruin upon the boot and shoe warehouses in the island. Local shoemakers, as a rule, have more work than they can cope with, notwithstanding that a pair of hand-made shoes costs double what a pair of machine-made shoes does. A protective duty means a high taxation, and, if imposed, would be borne only by the consumers without any benefit to local industry.

Paragraph 127, Commission Agents.-The proposed measure should only apply to persons starting business after the publication of the law; for existing houses only registering should be imposed.

Paragraphs 128 to 130.-It is too premature to recommend that a system of taxation and the duties on imports should be overhauled at the conclusion of the War. The matter requires much study, and it should, if necessary, be discussed by the people, who are the contributors, through their representatives in the Council of Government.

LORENZO FALzon.

Valletta, 11th June, 1917.

I FULLY agree with the above remarks and reservations. 11th June, 1917.

F. AZZOPARDI, L.P.

J. L. FRANCIA.

Jos. ZAMMIT.

45894

A. CASSAR TORREGGIANI. LUIGI APAP.

DR. G. F. INGLOTT.

RESERVATIONS MADE BY MR. FALZON.

Paragraph 3.-I repeat the reservation made by me during the discussions of the sub-committee, viz., that it is premature to propose that the Government of Malta should be prepared to bear a proportionate share of the burdens of the Empire.

No. 37.

GOLD COAST.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received 17th September, 1917.)

(Confidential.)

Government House, Accra, 15th August, 1917.

N.B. This despatch and enclosures were printed in the Colony and copies were supplied by the Governor. For reasons of economy it has not been reprinted but is included as an appendix to this volume.