HC Deb 18 June 1903 vol 123 cc1308-9
MR. MARKHAM (Nottinghamshire, Mansfield)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government of Sir Gordon Sprigg asked either him or Lord Milner to create a preferential tariff in favour of dynamite manufactured in Cape Colony for use in the Transvaal against British manufacturers; and, if no such communication was received, will he say why this preferential duty was imposed by Lord Milner, seeing outside the Transvaal there is no other dynamite factory in South Africa except that of the De Beers Company.

The following question also appeared on the Paper—

MR. MARKHAM

To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has sanctioned a coast duty on any manufactured goods consigned to the Transvaal; and, if so, what articles besides dynamite are taxed in this manner; whether, seeing that dynamite manufactured at the De Beers Company's new factory at Cape Town pays no duty when used in the Transvaal, will he say for what reasons this disability has been created against British dynamite manufacturers; and will he lay upon the Table of the House the protests addressed to him by British dynamite manufacturers against this new monopoly granted to the De Beers Company on all dynamite imported by them into the Transvaal.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.

I propose to answer the two Questions together.

MR. MARKHAM

On a point of order. If the right hon. Gentleman intends to take that course I will withdraw the second Question.

MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN

I shall answer the two. I have no reason to suppose that any request was made by the Cape Government for preferential treatment of Cape dynamite in the Transvaal, and if the hon. Member will refer to Command Paper, 1599, he will see that Article XVII of the Customs Convention gives the Transvaal Government power to make such arrangements as will prevent Cape dynamite from enjoying any preferential treatment within the Transvaal. I stated on Monday last† that the question of taking action under this Article is now under consideration, and that being so I am unable to make any further statement at the present time, and no useful purpose would be served by laying on the Table the protests of British manufacturers to which the hon. Member refers. The hon. Member will find in the Convention itself all information as to the manufactured articles which will be subject to a coast duty when imported into the Transvaal.

MR. MARKHAM

Is it not the fact that dynamite is now manufactured in Cape Colony and imported into the Transvaal free of duty? Yes or no?

MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN

If the hon. Member wants further information let him put down a Question.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)

Is it not the fact that Lord Milner, who has imposed this preferential duty in favour of the De Beers Company, is himself a large owner of shares in the company?

MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN

I believe there is no foundation whatever for that statement.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

And I believe the reverse.