§ 8. Sir ROBERT HAMILTONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has considered the letter sent by the committee of the British Association of Straits Merchants protesting against the imposition of quotas as damaging the entrepôt trade of the Colony; and whether the legislation to impose quotas on foreign textile imports, which was opposed by all the unofficial members, was passed with his sanction?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI have considered the letter referred to, and the Association has been informed that the most careful thought was given to the safeguarding of the valuable entrepôt trade of Singapore and Penang and that I hope that the legislation devised for the application of quota restrictions on textile imports in the Straits Settlements will give full scope for the maintenance of the entrepôt trade of those two ports. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.
§ Sir PERCY HARRISIs the primary purpose of these quotas the interests of the Straits Settlements or the interests of this country?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe common interest of the quota policy is the interest of the Colony and of this country.