Captain A EVANSasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is aware of the efforts which are being made by the Belleville trade group towards reciprocal trade with Great Britain, their endeavours to extend the market for Welsh coal in Ontario and their desire for a reciprocal action on our part in connection with Canadian farm products; and if his Department is in touch with interested parties and doing all it can to facilitate mutually advantageous arrangements?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEI am aware of the movement in Belleville which is advocating in a general way the idea of promoting trade between this country and Canada by bartering farm produce against Welsh anthracite, but so far as I am aware no concrete proposal to which effect could be given has been advanced. While the disadvantages of trade by barter are obvious, if any practical scheme were submitted for conducting by barter a considerable volume of trade which could not be financed by more normal methods, I should be glad to consider whether there are any means by which it could properly be facilitated.