§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT (Monmouthshire, W.)To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, when the preferential tariff in favour of Great Britain by Canada was increased in 18971898 to 25 per cent., the bounty given on iron was increased from 2 dols. to 3 dols. per ton; what was the production of pig iron in Canada in 1897 and in 1901; whether, when the question of preferential duties was discussed at the Conference in 1902, any proposal was made to abandon the condemned principle of bounties to private manufacture in Canada; and whether it is proposed to establish bounties on iron in Australia.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain.) In 1898 the bounty on pig iron made from Canadian ore was raised from 2 dols. to 3 dols per ton. The bounty on pig iron made from imported ore remained at 2 dols. per ton The production of pig iron in Canada in 1897 was 58,007 tons, and in 1901 274,376 tons. The question of bounties was not discussed at the Conference. I have no information as to any proposal to establish bounties in Australia.