A.—s.

Mr. DEAKIN : We affirm it, and you dissent. CHAIRMAN*: Yes, we dissent. REVISION OF COMMERCIAL TEtEATIES. Mr. DEAKIN : I presume there is no objection to the next: " That the " Imperial Government be requested to prepare for the information of " Colonial Governments, statements showing the privileges conferred, and the " obligations imposed, on the Colonies by existing commercial treaties, and " that inquiries be instituted in connection with the revision proposed in " resolution No. V." You have presented most of this information. Mr. LLOYD GEORGE : Yes Mr. DEAKIN : I presume that will be carried. Sir WILFRID LAURIER : That is a very proper thing. Mr. LLOYD GEORGE : Would you mind explaining the last sentence of it—" to ascertain how far it is possible to make those obligations and " benefits uniform throughout the Empire " ? Mr. DEAKIN : We quite recognise that in many cases there must be special treaties which will only affect parts of the Empire and not the whole of it. But surely it is desirable that these differences should be reduced to a minimum, and that, wherever possible, treaties should have sway if possible over the whole extent. In many cases they are relatively immaterial. Minor treaties are proposed to us, and we say no to them because we have no interest one way or the other; but if it was represented to us that the Commonwealth was the only place in the Empire which was not agreeing, no doubt for the sake of uniformity we should say : " Very well, we will fall in with it." it does not mean very much, but it clears the way by encouraging general action instead of partial action. It is not intended to go further. Mr. LLOYD GEORGE : I do net see any objection to that. Sir JOSEPH WARD : Nor I. Sir WILFRID LAURIER : What is the meaning of resolution No. V ? Mr. DEAKIN : It is at the end of the one we have just had : " That the " Imperial Government be requested to take the necessary steps for the " revision of any commercial treaties which prevent preferential treatment " being accorded to British goods carried in British ships." I did not move that at this stage, because I proposed to refer to it very briefly in connection with the question of the treaties raised by the resolution of the Government of New Zealand. Sir WILFRID LAURIER : Will you read it, and move it ? Mr. DEAKIN : I have only moved the resolution lower down : " That " the Imperial Government be requested to prepare for the information of " Colonial Governments, statements showing the privileges conferred, and

Thirteenth Day. 8 May 1907.

Coastwise Trade.

Revision ok Commercial Treaties.

467