§ 55. Mr. HANNONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that planting and other industries in Trinidad and British Guiana are cancelling orders which they had intended to place in Great Britain for machinery and other supplies on account of the attitude of the Home Government on the question of Imperial Preference; whether any communications in this sense have been received at the Colonial Office from the West Indies; and whether any representations have been made to the Colonial Office by manufacturers in this country?
§ Mr. HANNONMay I ask my hon. Friend—within the purview of whose Department this question comes—whether he has received any representations from the West Indies as to difficulties anticipated in view of the fact that they are not getting a fair share of preference in this country?
§ 57. Sir W. MITCHELL - THOMSONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will undertake to inform this House, as soon as His Majesty's Government arrive at a decision, of the nature of the instructions to be sent to the official members of the Jamaica Legislative Council in regard to the attitude to be adopted by them upon the proposal of the elected members to reduce the preference granted to Great Britain, and to obtain leave to negotiate reciprocity agreements with other countries; and whether His Majesty's Government will instruct the Governor of 30 Jamaica to procure, if possible, the adjournment of the discussion of these proposals by the council until the final decision of Parliament in regard to the sugar preference shall be known?
§ Mr. LUNNThe Secretary of State for the Colonies has just received by telegraph the text of a Resolution adopted by the Legislative Council of Jamaica, stating that the Council views with concern the proposals in the Budget as affecting tariff preferences granted to the Colonies, and indicating the possibility of a reconstruction of the Jamaica tariff on lines which would deprive this country of the preference now existing. A copy of the Resolution will be placed in the Library of the House. No instructions were sent as to the attitude of the official members.
Sir F. HALLDoes the hon. Gentleman think that the reply received from the Colonies on these subjects coincides with throwing our markets open to German and other competition?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL - THOMSONWould the hon. Gentleman suggest to the Colonial Office the course indicated in the last part of the question, that is to say, that an endeavour be made to secure that the effective Debate on this proposal in the Council should be postponed until the final decision is reached by this Government? Might not suggestions in that sense be communicated to the Governor, and also in the case of British Guiana?
Sir F. HALLDo not the hon. Gentle man and the Government think it better to give preference to foreigners?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is a matter of debate.