§ Lord Beaumontrose to put a question to the noble Duke opposite on the subject of a bill which had passed the Legislature of Canada for imposing a duly on foreign wheat imported into Canada. The ques- 1151 tion he wished to ask was, whether it were the intention of her Majesty's Government to introduce any measure this Session to reduce the present duties on wheat and wheaten flour imported from Canada. If the question he had just stated were answered in the affirmative, he should wish to ask, further, whether any negotiations were on foot with the United States, to enable us to obtain from that country a reduction of her import duties upon English manufactures, in return for the enormous boon which we were about to bestow on that country.
§ The Duke of Wellingtonsaid the noble Lord had given notice last night of his intention to ask a question, which he (the Duke of Wellington was prepared to answer. The noble Lord had not given notice of his second question, and he (the Duke of Wellington) was not prepared to answer it. The noble Lord the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs was in the House, and he would probably state whether he could answer the question. At all events, he could not answer it. With respect to the first question of the noble Lord, he begged to inform the noble Lord that the document to which the noble Lord had referred was not an act of the colonial Legislature, although it was a bill passed by the colonial Legislature. It could not be an act of the Colonial Parliament until confirmed by her Majesty. He would remind their Lordships, that in the course of the last Session of Parliament, when the Corn-laws were under discussion, it was stated to be the intention of the Government to propose an alteration in that part of the colonial system which related to intercourse with the province of Canada, when an act should have passed the colonial Legislature to regulate the intercourse with the United States, in the article of corn. In answer to the question of the noble Lord, he (the Duke of Wellington) would tell the noble Lord that when the bill to which he had referred became law, it was the intention of her Majesty's Government to propose the alteration which was in contemplation during the last Session of Parliament, when the corn bill was passed.
§ Lord Beaumontregretted deeply the answer he had received. He regretted it because it appeared that between the Secretary for the Colonies and the Government of Canada there was actually going on a kind of bargain, while at the time 1152 Parliament was discussing a bill which was believed to be permanent.
§ The Duke of Wellingtonthought he had told the noble Lord and the House—he knew it had been stated in the other House of Parliament that it was intended in case such a bill as had been alluded to passed the colonial Parliament, that the laws governing the intercourse between this country and that colony would thereafter be revised.
§ Lord Monteaglewished to know when the bill was likely to be introduced. He would also ask the noble Duke opposite, when the bill would be likely to come into operation?
§ The Duke of Wellingtonwas understood to reply—not immediately.
§ Their Lordships adjourned.