§ Mr. FELLasked the President of the Board of Trade if two representatives have been sent to visit the self-governing Colonies on behalf of the Government; what is the nature of their mission and instructions; and will they be authorised to confer with the Colonial Governments on the question of preferential trade within the Empire?
§ Colonel SEELY:Sir Charles Lucas, the head of the Dominions Division of the 1708W Colonial Office, accompanied by Mr. Pearson, has gone, by the Secretary of State's instructions, on a visit to Australia and New Zealand, in accordance with the suggestion made at the Colonial Conference that opportunities should be created by periodical visits for members of the permanent staff of the Colonial Office to acquire personal knowledge of the circumstances and conditions of those colonies with whose business they have to deal. The main object of the visit is, therefore, to bring the Colonial Office more in touch with Australasian feeling. Sir Charles Lucas will, no doubt, discuss subjects which are of special interest to Australian statesmen. He is well aware of the views of His Majesty's Government as to the application of a system of Colonial Preference to the Mother Country.