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433

CARRIAGE OF BRITISH GOODS IN BRITISH SHIPS. Sir JOSEPH WARD : I want to see if I can get my resolution unanimously agreed to. I want to suggest an alteration in it. The affirming of the resolution of 1902, as proposed by Sir Wilfrid Laurier, to which I agree, as I think it is 'the best thing under all the circumstances to-day, removes the necessity for independent resolutions being moved by any of the self-governing Colonies; but I would like to slightly alter this resolution, in the hope that it may meet with at least a good send-off from this Conference. I want to suggest: " That it is essential to the well-being of both the Uniteel " Kingdom and His Majesty's Dominions beyond the Seas that in the " transport of goods to the over-sea Dominions efforts in favour of British " manufactured goods carried in British-owned ships should be supported "by this Conference." I want to affirm the desirability of carrying British manufactured goods in British ships\ if we can, and I should think the Conference generally would be able to assist to that. Sir WILFRID LAURIER : I would add "as far as practicable " after the word supported—" That it is essential to the well-being of both the " United Kingdom and His Majesty's Dominions beyond the Seas that in the " transport of goods to the over-sea Dominions efforts in favour of British " manufactured goods carried in British-owned ships should be supported as " far as practicable." Mr. F. R. MOOR : Are not we getting into confusion ? We might deal with one thing at a time. CHAIRMAN : We were only taking this to fill up time. Sir WILFRID LAURIER : So far as Canada is concerned I am disposed to agree to this. Perhaps Sir Joseph Ward will agree to my suggestion of the word " desirable," instead of " essential." In Canada a resolution was introduced to limit the benefit of the preference on British goods only to those imported through Canadian ports. We accepted the resolution, but with a modification which is to come into force shortly, when in the opinion of the Governor in Council the trade has been sufficiently developed so as to allow us to get importations into Canadian ports. At present many imports come by way of the United States. That is a relic of the practice of former days, when' Canada had to get its trade developed through the means of the southern ports, but now we are getting our own ports equipped, we hope, by and by, to possibly dispense altogether with intermediate States. This is on "the same lines. To confine British trade to British bottoms there can be no serious objection. I agree to-it very willingly, especially as Sir Joseph Ward has agreed to put into it "as far as practicable." It could not be done at the present time so far as Canada is concerned. We have to use other ships, but we are getting to use more and more the British ships. So I accept it with the qualification " so far as practicable," because it could not be put into force immediately. Mr. LLOYD GEORGE: " British manufactured goods in British shipping," instead of "carried in." Sir JOSEPH WARD : Yes, I will make the alteration. I only want to affirm something in that direction. Mr. DEAKIN : Are you moving that? Sir JOSEPH WARD : Yes.

Twelfth Day. 7 May 1907.

Carriage of British Goods in British Ships.

56—A. 5.