CO129-441 - Governor Sir May - 1917 [1-3] — Page 203

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10th.

Sir,

1917.

200

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your reply No. 3310/1916 to this Chamber's letter of 5th. December regarding the purchase of Empire-made goods and the placing of s11 contracts with British firms.

2.

This Chamber would be glad to see the system of requisitioning through the Crow Agents in London entirely abolished sind opportunity given to all British Herchants in the Colony to tender for Government requirements.

3.

My Committee is of opinion that only British firms should be allowed to tender for losal contracts, but should this be found impracticable then the Chinese should be required to guarantee that the material supplied is of British manufacture (unless not produced in the Empire) and failing such guarantee a higher tender from a British firm should be accepted.

4.

In the case of the Green Island Cement Co. so real argment exists against the adoption of the general principle, for the finished product is a British product, produced in the Empire. In any discussion of protective measures my Committee hold the view that raw materials are generally excepted and this exception would embrace both the onse of the Green Island Cement, and the consumption of Chinese or Japmese Goal.

▲ Company with British Capital manufacturing in a foreign country on the other hand, should be penalised as against competitors operating in the Empire, for the former are probably doing so partly to evade charges within the Empire.

5.

Public utility Companies such as Gas, Electric Light, Telephone and Tramway Comp mies vould probably be largely influenced by the example of a Government practicising practising principles of "British for the British". The fear of Government absorption might prove sufficient, and in any case legislation