§ Sir R. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will consider the advisability of arranging at an early date for a colonial economic conference to be held in this country, to be attended not only by representatives of colonial producers and administration but by representatives of industry in this country, with a view to working out plans for the better development of the Colonies and the more extensive use of colonial products by industry in this country?
Mr. M. MacDonaldI am in entire agreement with my hon. Friend's attitude towards Colonial development; I also agree with my hon. Friend's view that the closest co-operation between Colonial Governments and producers on the one hand and United Kingdom industry on the other is a very effective means of promoting this aim, but I doubt whether a conference of the kind which he proposes would serve a useful purpose at the present time.