§ *MR. WHITEHEADI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the protective tariff in force in the Australian Commonwealth applies to maize, copra, and other products of the New Hebrides, and has been a cause in limiting the number of British settlers and retarding the development of British interests in those islands; and whether, in the event of further representations being made by the Australian Government with a view to Australian predominance in the New Hebrides, His Majesty's Government will endeavour to persuade the Australian Government to encourage British, settlement by offering a free market in the Commonwealth to British merchandise exported from the islands.
§ MR. CHURCHILLI am aware of the facts stated in the first part of the hon. Member's Question. The Australian Government propose to submit to the Commonwealth Parliament at an early date proposals in connection with tariff revision which will, I gather, be designed to minimise as far as possible the disability under which British settlers in the New Hebrides are now labouring.