I want to raise on this Clause the question of the withdrawal of the McKenna Duties, and to mention in particular one small industry which has never had its case put before the House, namely, the cinematograph printing industry in this country. It is an industry which grew up owing to the tax which was put upon films imported into this country, and now, without a moment's warning, this industry—admittedly a small one—is going to suffer great hardship. The whole position is curious in this respect, that, as far as I can find out, not one single soul in this country is going to be benefited by the withdrawal of this duty. No Section of the cinematograph trade, not even importers of foreign films, are in favour of the withdrawal of the tax upon cinema films. I think I ought very briefly to state the two different types of films which are imported into this country. Unfortunately, cinematograph films are not taken in this country so much as they are abroad. Almost 90 per cent. of the great cinema plays are photographed outside the United Kingdom, and, when such a play is finished, it is, as a rule, imported into this country in the form of a negative. I can quite understand that, if a high duty is put upon the negative, that might increase the charge to cinema theatre patrons, and on the question of negative films I do not say anything at all. It is, however, in connection with positive films that this particular hardship comes upon film printers in this country.

There is no difference in the price of printed films as between this country and any other, and the imposition of this duty upon imported positive films caused films to be printed in this country which otherwise would have been printed abroad. We are now in this position, that, owing to the withdrawal of this particular duty, films which were printed here will now be printed abroad, not because that is necessary, but because, where one has a manufactory, one tries to use it in the very best possible way, on a 100 per cent. basis, doing as much work as possible in order to keep the overhead charges as small as possible. Consequently, copies of the great films which have been made abroad will come into this country already printed. I want to point out to the Chancellor of the Exchequer that this particular industry is in a different position from any other, because the machinery is quite exceptional, and is of no use for any other work but the printing of films. In other industries, such as engineering, the making of motor cars, and so on, it is quite conceivable that the plant in the factories could be turned to some other account; other goods could be manufactured, and the capital invested in the factories used in some way; but in this particular case the machinery is so exceptional, and so entirely confined to the one particular business of film printing, that at this moment, owing to the withdrawal of the duty, the machinery, complicated and expensive as it is, is of no value at all. I have put before the hon. Gentleman this small industry, which was increasing in importance and earning money and is now in a very difficult position. It is going to be sacrificed because of an abstract political doctrine. I know any words I say to-night are not going to change the position, but I have risen to put the case of this small industry and to show how this very great hardship has been inflicted on a growing business for the benefit of not one single soul in the United Kingdom but for the benefit of people outside the United Kingdom.