§ MR. BYLES (Salford, N.)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Basutoland and the other South African Protectorates were represented at the late Customs Conference of the South African Colonies; and whether he will lay upon the Table of the House any correspondence which has passed upon the subject.
§ COLONEL SEELYThe South African Protectorates wore not represented at the recent Customs Conference. The Conference, however, has not led to any material change in the tariff. As I stated in the House on the 7th of May, it is not intended to lay any correspondence.
§ SIR GILBERT PARKER (Gravesend)In view of the importance of this matter to the South African Protectorates will the Government not reconsider the question of laying correspondence?
§ COLONEL SEELYThe Government are fully alive to the importance of this matter as affecting the Protectorates, but do not consider it either desirable or necessary to publish the correspondence 1482 for reasons I shall be happy to give the hon. Gentleman if he puts down a further Question.