148
In these circumstances the Postmaster-General would be glad to know what truth there is in the report referred to, and whether Lord Elgin has taken or proposes to take any steps in regard to a measure which could not fail seriously to prejudice the interests of the Post Office in regard to the Imperial Mail Service to and from Australia.
I am to ask you to remind his Lordship that, at the request of the Peninsular and Oriental Company, the supplemental contract dated the 25th of July 1904 embodies a clause (No. 4) empowering them to discontinue their service on the Australian section at six months' notice if by reason of new legislation in the Commonwealth relating to shipping the maintenance of the service becomes impossible except under conditions commercially disastrous to the Company.
If the Commonwealth were to discriminate against the Imperial Mail Packets of the future on the ground in question, it would certainly become difficult for His Majesty's Government to obtain the services of first-class contractors except at a greatly enhanced price.
39211.
No. 5.
I
am,
&c.,
H. BUXTON FORMAN.
COLONIAL OFFICE to GENERAL POST OFFICE.
SIR,
Downing Street, November 2, 1906. I AM directed by the Earl of Elgin to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th ultimo* regarding the proposal to grant preference to British goods imported into Australia in British ships, and to state that he has not yet received the Bill on this subject which has been passed by the Common- wealth Parliament and has been reserved by the Governor-General for the signification of His Majesty's pleasure.
2. Lord Elgin is, however, not aware that the measure contains any reference to ships being manned by white seamen, but he will cause a further communication to be addressed to your Department when the Bill is received.
I am, &c.,
H. BERTRAM COX,
149
In all
direct in British ships not manned exclusively by white seamen. probability the Commonwealth Government intends to levy on such goods the full duties payable on foreign goods; and, in view of the representations made in the letter from this Office of the 24th October, Mr. Sydney Buxton will be glad to know whether the Secretary of State for the Colonies has taken, or proposes to take, any steps to prevent the attainment of this object.
I am, &c.,
47782.
SIR,
No. 7.
H. BABINGTON SMITH.
COLONIAL OFFICE to GENERAL POST OFFICE.
Downing Street, January 26, 1907. I AM directed by the Earl of Elgin to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th ultimo† and to transmit to you, for the information of the Postmaster-General, the accompanying copy of the Australian Bill relating to Duties cf Customs, as passed by the Commonwealth Senate and House of Representatives.
2. The Governor-General has reserved the Bill for the signification of His Majesty's pleasure, and it is therefore not in operation. A decision on the question whether His Majesty should be advised to declare his assent to it is deferred until after the Colonial Conference, and the opportunity will be taken to discuss personally with the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth all the questions raised by the Bill, including the matter with which your letter deals.
I am, &c.,
H. BERTRAM COX.
47782.
No. 8.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
C.O.
Reference :-
•885
17 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
47782.
No. 6.
GENERAL POST OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received December 28, 1906.) [Answered by No. 7.]
General Post Office, London,
December 27, 1906.
SIR,
I AM directed by the Postmaster-General to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th of November, No. 40820/1906,† relating to the Bill dealing with the proposed preferential treatment in Australia of British goods imported under certain conditions, and enclosing copies of the Bill as read for the first time in the House of Representatives and as read for the first time in the Senate of the Commonwealth.
The Postmaster-General observes that the two columns of the Schedule under the heading "Duties" do not, as now drafted, cover the whole ground, The first column specifies the duties on dutiable goods "imported direct in British ships manned exclusively by white seamen," and the second colump on dutiable goods "not imported direct in British ships." But there is no provision whatever as to the Customs duties on British goods imported
• No. 4.
† Not printed.
SIR,
COLONIAL OFFICE to INDIA OFFICE. [Answered by No. 9.]
Downing Street, January 26, 1907.
WITH reference to the letter from this Department of 4th April 1902,‡
I am directed by the Earl of Elgin to transmit to you, to be laid before Mr. Secretary Morley, copy of a Bills passed by the Commonwealth Parliament and reserved by the Governor-General for the signification of His Majesty's pleasure, entitled "The Customs Tariff (British Preference), 1906," together with copies of correspondence|| between this Department and the General Post G.P.O., Oct. Office, relative to a provision in the Bill limiting the preference to British 24, 1906. goods imported in British ships manned exclusively by white seamen.
G.P.O., Dec.
I am to add that the despatch to the Governor-General of Australia 27, 1906. referred to in the letter from the General Post Office of 24th October last was laid before Parliament in 1903. (See [Cd. 1639].)
I am, &c.,
• No. 4.
† No. 6.
‡ No. 3.
§ [Cd. 3339], March, 1907.
H. BERTRAM COX.
Nos. 4, 6, and 7.
K 3
To G.P.O., Jan. 26, 1907.
15018.