Mallet to Under-Secretary of State

With reference to my letter of this day's date on the subject of the
recent Session of the Legislature of British Columbia I am directed by
the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade to request that you
will state to the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos that they are of
opinion that it deserves consideration whether the 163rd and the
328th Sections of the 16th and 17th Vict. c. 107 should
not be repealed and the Legislatures of the British Possessions be
authorized to regulate the Coasting Trade of such possessions
respectively in the same manner as other matters affecting Trade and
Navigation viz: by Local Act or Ordinance subject to the approval of
the Queen in Council.

As his Grace is aware the clauses in question were enacted at a
time when the Coasting Trade of the United Kingdom was reserved to
British Shipping and when it was therefore consistent with Imperial
policy to restrict the Coasting Trade of the Colonies in a similar
manner, and throw upon them the 'onus' of opening this trade to
Foreign Ships.

But under the rule of Imperial policy now established it appears to
My Lords to be for the same reason desirable that while not compelling
the Colonies to adopt it, no provisions should be allowed to remain
on the Statute Book, which enforce or sanction the contrary policy
and if the Secretary of State concurs in this view My Lords would
suggest that a Bill for this purpose should be submitted to
Parliament in the approaching Session.