I think the hon. Member who moved the Second Reading of this new Clause stated the position correctly with regard to the reasons why a similar proposal brought forward two years ago was rejected. He said that the reason was that canal carriers were not subject to foreign competition in the same way as coastwise trading vessels were. Upon reflection, I think he will probably agree that, important as was the reason for the refusal then, it is if anything rather stronger now. These vessels make use of heavy oil. As the House is aware, the duty on heavy oil for road transport this year has been increased from a penny to 8d. In so far as road vehicles are the principal competitors with the inland trading vessels, a great advantage has been given to those vessels this year by the additional duty that has been imposed upon one of their principal competitors.

The hon. Member who seconded the new Clause, seconded an Amendment some days ago on the Estate Duties and then, after hearing my argument said that so far from the duty in question being reduced it ought to be increased in order to teach hon. Members not to introduce Amendments of this character. A similar plea might be put forward here. I am not at all sure that such a fear was entirely absent from the canal interests. When they learned that the duty was being put up on road transport were they not afraid that it might be put up on water transport also? In fact, their fears have not been realised. They are really beneficiaries under this Finance Bill in so far as any duty has been laid upon one of their principal competitors.

Nor can it be contended that this traffic is under any undue weight of taxation at the present time. The National Association of Canal Carriers a year ago estimated the expense of the heavy Oil Duty on their whole membership at £5,000 a year, and they admitted that it was not a crushing burden. So short a time ago as last March the Chairman of the Grand Union Canal Company stated that the tonnage carried by their canals in 1934 increased by 52,000 tons over 1933, and he added: With regard to the future I cannot feel anything but very optimistic. We have really been deluged with inquiries from all directions, but owing to a shortage of canal boats for long-distance traffic we have had to turn down trade. It was stated that the company had placed orders for nearly 100 new boats, and proposed to order immediately another 50. No one can contend that this branch of industry is suffering from high duties. My hon. Friend the Member for Moseley (Mr. Hannon) argued that when industries begin to prosper it is a good time to give them a pat on the back and to help them forward; but if the Treasury are to be asked to support all those industries which are not doing well, and at the same time to support all the other industries that are doing well in order to encourage them to do better, there would be no end to the expenditure that the country would incur.