§ MR. ASCROFTI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the Report of Mr. Vice-Consul Venables on the trade of Belgium, and to the statement therein that the Antwerp Chamber of Commerce had addressed the central authorities at Brussels with the object of extending the trade of that country with the British Colonies by a policy of free trade, and by the removal of existing duties on those articles in which the Canadian exporters were most interested; whether he is aware that the frozen meat trade between Belgium and New Zealand and other Australasian possessions, which was of considerable importance and gave promise of considerable extension in the future, had now almost disappeared through the Belgian Government requiring that all carcases imported should have the lungs attached; and whether he would consider the advisability of approaching the Belgian Government in conjunction with representatives of the Colonies in respect to same?
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TUB COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBRERLAIN, Birmingham, W.)I have seen the statement in the Report of Mr. Vice-consul Venables to which the honourable Member refers. I am aware that the restriction imposed by the Belgian Government has injured the trade in frozen meat with the Australasian Colonies. Representations have been made to that Government on the subject, but so far without success.