§ SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucester, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies when 1214 the Africa (British Colonies) Spirits Return, needed for any discussion on the importation of drink into Africa, will be ready for presentation to the House?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.It is desired to include the Returns for British Central Africa, and I learn on inquiry at the Foreign Office that these cannot be expected before the end of next month. Meanwhile the subject has had my careful attention, and elaborate statistics have been prepared in the Office, together with a report on the various suggestions made for the regulation of the traffic. This memorandum will be immediately submitted for observations and suggestions to the Chambers of Commerce of London, Liverpool, Glasgow, and Manchester, and when the correspondence is complete I propose to lay it on the Table.
§ MR. W. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)asked whether the right hon. Gentleman would include the Belfast Chamber of Commerce.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI should be glad to include the Belfast Chamber, or any other Chamber which has a special interest in the matter, and if the Belfast Chamber can show that it has a special interest in the liquor traffic in Africa, I should be very glad to include it.
§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)And Dublin?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINMy answer to that is the same.