§ MR. BLACK (Banffshire)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that wool and hides form the larger proportion of the imports into this country from the Australian colonies as compared with food, and, with the view of benefiting these colonies, whether the Government hag resolved to impose an import duty on wool and hides as well as on food coming from foreign countries, or whether it has resolved to refrain from imposing such a duty.
§ MR J. CHAMBERLAINHis Majesty's Government has made no proposals at all on this subject, and as far as I am aware no Member on this side of the House has proposed or suggested a tax on raw materials.
§ MR. BLACKMay it be taken that the right hon. Gentleman was speaking for the Government in proposing—
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! The hon. Member is referring to some other point.
§ MR. BLACKOn a point, of order, Sir, the right hon. Gentleman has already made a statement as a member of the Government, and I venture to submit that we are entitled to know whether he spoke on behalf of the Government on the previous occasion?
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!