§ MR. MOLTENO (Dumfriesshire)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction of the Colonies of Australia and New Zealand with the 327 charges levied by the Suez Canal Company on shipping passing between those Colonies and the Mother Country; whether representations have been made by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth to the effect that steamships trading between Australia and Great Britain are deterred from taking the shorter route by reason of the heavy charges levied by the Suez Canal authorities and are compelled to take the longer route round South Africa, involving several days extra steaming; whether the Governor-General has suggested, in view of the dividend of 28 per cent. paid on the Suez Canal shares, a substantial reduction in existing rates and asked, on behalf of Australia, as well as of all other British Possessions lying to the East of Egypt, that the influence of the British Government should be used to secure concessions which would have a material effect on inter-Empire trade and upon the volume of traffic which will pass through the canal; whether these representations were strongly reinforced by the Premiers of Australia and New Zealand at the recent Colonial Conference; and whether they are being taken into consideration by His Majesty's Government, together with those to the same effect from British shipowners.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Colonel SEELY, Liverpool, Abercromby)The facts are generally as stated in the Question. The matter is being considered by His Majesty's Government and will not be overlooked.