§ MR. HARMOOD-BANNER (Liverpool, Everton)To ask the Under-Secretary o f State for the Colonies whether the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia communicated with the Home Government prior to declaring his assent to The Australian Industries Preservation Act, 1906; and whether, in view of the effect of the provisions of this Act upon the interests of traders, manufacturers, shipowners, and others in the United Kingdom carrying on, or seeking to carry on, business with persons in the Commonwealth, he can undertake that, in the future, the provisions of proposed laws passed by the Commonwealth Parliament, which appear likely materially to affect the trade interests of the United Kingdom, shall not receive the assent of the Governor-General until an opportunity has been taken by the Home Government to elicit the opinions of the commercial community in this country upon the probable effect on their interests of such proposed legislation.
§ (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) The Governor-General did not consult the Secretary of State before assenting to The Australian Industries Preservation Act, 1900, and he was not required under his instructions to do so. The Secretary of State cannot possibly give the undertaking suggested by the hon. Member, as any such instruction to the Governor-General would be incompatible with the principles of responsible government under the constitution of the Commonwealth.