§ MR. D. A. THOMASI beg to ask the President of the Board Trade whether, in view of the bearing on the fiscal inquiry of the Return promised to the hon. Member for the High Peak Division in reference to the imports from foreign countries into British Possessions,‡ the often misleading character of trade statistics when taken for a single year only, and the desirability of showing the growth of the imports in question, he will consider advisability of extending the Return so as to cover several years prior to the last available year.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURAs I in formed the hon. Member on Monday§ I am not prepared to agree to the extension asked for, which would cause great delay in the publication of the Return.