§ 76. Mr. DINGLE FOOTasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies which Colonial Legislatures have approved Empire preference duties; in how many cases protests have been entered by nonofficial members; and whether he has issued any instructions to Governors of Crown Colonies with regard to such preference duties?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE to the COLONIES (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister)As regards the first part of this question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers given, on 13th April, to the hon. and gallant Member for the Isle of Wight (Captain P. Macdonald), and on 2nd June, to the hon. Member for Reigate (Mr. Touche). I am sending my hon. Friend copies of those answers. I am not aware of any protests having been entered by non-official members of Colonial Legislatures against the Empire preference duties. I have been in constant communication with Governors of Colonies on the subject of Imperial trade policy, and I have stated that I was sure Colonies would wish to reciprocate to the fullest extent practicable the preferences 218 given by this country; and I have every reason to believe that I have rightly gauged their wishes.
§ Mr. FOOTHas my right hon. Friend's attention been drawn to the statement which appeared in the "Times" of 31st May to the effect that in the case of the Straits Settlements, the preferences were passed under strong protest from the nonofficial members?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERNo. My attention was not directed to that statement, and I am satisfied that, broadly speaking, every single part of the British Empire desires to reciprocate the policy of this country.