§ 7. Commander BELLAIRSasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what date communication was first made to the British Government by the Australian Government in respect of large quantities of German-owned spelter in Australia; and whether the supply will be brought to this country, seeing that it is needed for the manufacture of munitions?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI am not aware that there is any German-owned spelter in Australia. Australia, however, produces large quantities of zinc ores and concentrates. These were not manufactured into spelter in Australia, but before the War they were principally exported to Germany for that purpose. On 11th December the Commonwealth Government drew the attention of His Majesty's Government to the existence of the ore and concentrates and to the contracts with German firms by which they were controlled. The question of these contracts and the 1915 whole problem of the increased manufacture of spelter in the United Kingdom is engaging the immediate attention of His Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. HEWINSIs my right hon. Friend aware that his predecessor in office assured me on the 20th April that these matters were under consideration? Are we not entitled to ask for some result?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI am as anxious as my hon. Friend to see a result, but very complicated legal questions are involved, and I can assure him every effort is being made to hasten a decision.