§ MR. HAROLD COXI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his decision to appoint consuls to act in British Colonies was in any way due to requests made or advice tendered by the Colonial Premiers or other Colonial authorities; whether the gentlemen who have been, or are about to be, appointed to these appointments were selected in consultation with Colonial authorities; whether it is anticipated that the services of these gentlemen will be of value to the Colonies; and, if so, whether the Colonies have offered to pay the whole or any part of the salaries of the gentle- men so selected.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. LLOYD-GEORGE, Carnarvon) BoroughsThe proceedings at the recent Imperial Conference had no doubt a great deal to do with the decision to extend the present system of commercial agents in the Colonies. Care will naturally be taken to see that any persons appointed to these posts are acceptable to the Colonies in which they will reside. As the commercial agents will be appointed primarily in the interests of traders of the United Kingdom, it is not in contemplation to suggest that any portion of their salaries should be met by the Colonial Governments.
§ In reply to a supplementary Question,
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEwas under stood to say that he thought the Prime Minister of New Zealand pressed the suggestion.