§ Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Report of the Royal Commission on the trade relations between Canada and the West Indies recommended a system of mutual preference; whether the local legislatures of the West Indies, except Jamaica, have since passed resolutions approving the principle of mutual preference; whether, since the introduction of the reciprocity arrangement between Canada and the United States, any further steps have been taken to carry out these West Indian proposals; and whether His Majesty's Government have received any despatches from Mr. Bryce, as the representative of the Crown, pointing out the bearing of the reciprocity agreement upon the recommendations of the Royal Commission?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Harcourt)The answer to the first part of the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative. A number of the local legislatures in the West Indies have passed resolutions in favour of mutual preference between the Colonies they represent and Canda, but there are some legislatures whose views have not yet reached me, and, pending the receipt 1021 of these, no further steps are being taken. The answer to the last part of the hon. Member's question is in the negative.
§ Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSONWill the right hon. Gentleman ask the Ambassador to the United States to furnish some report on the subject?
§ Mr. HARCOURTInstructions to the Ambassador must, of course, be given by the Foreign Office.
§ Mr. ALEXANDER SCOTTAre the legislatures of these colonies who have approved the principle of prefential tariffs large democratic bodies elected by the mass of the people whose food it is proposed to tax?
§ Mr. HARCOURTThe method of election differs widely in the West Indian colonies. If the hon. Gentleman wishes further information I shall be happy to give it to him personally.
§ Mr. A. SCOTTBefore any preferential system of tariffs is established in the Crown Colonies will an opportunity be given to the House to discuss them?