HC Deb 12 March 1906 vol 153 cc910-1
MR. WALKER (Leicestershire, Melton)

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the question of the appointment of British commercial representatives in Australia and New Zealand, as well as in Canada, is being considered at the present time; and what commercial agents in British Colonies, or further Colonial correspondents of the Commercial Intelligence Branch, have been appointed since the publication of Cd. 2044 in 1904.

* THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. CHURCHILL,) Manchester, N.W.

The appointment of commercial correspondents in Australia is receiving consideration. A complete list of such correspondents in the colonies, including New Zealand as they stood at the beginning of the year, will be found on pages 584 and 585 of the issue of the Board of Trade Journal for 28th December last, and a comparison between it and the list of 1904 will show the additions which have been made. In ease the hon. Gentleman should find any difficulty in extracting the information he desires, I shall be glad if he will communicate with me.

SIR GILBERT PAEKER (Gravesend)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the increasing efforts of foreign countries, through consular and commercial representations, to develop their trade in our Colonies, will he consider the advisability of appointing British trade agents in our self-governing Colonies.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. LLOYD-GEORGE,) Carnarvon Boroughs

The appointment of British Trade correspondents in the self-governing Colonies is receiving the consideration of the Advisory Committee on Commercial Intelligence. Five such correspondents have already been appointed in South Africa, and steps are now being taken with a view to make similar appointments in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. Since the publication of Cd. 2044 in 1904, fourteen commercial correspondents of the Board of Trade have been appointed by the Governments of various Colonies and Protectorates including Newfoundland, Ceylon, Federated Malay States, Northern and Southern Nigeria, British Central Africa, Cyprus.