EMPIRE COMMISSION.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14886, 28 January 1914, Page 9

EMPIRE COMMISSION.

REPORT ON AUSTRALASIA. (Br Cable.—Prne Association—Copyright.) LONDON. January 27. The Dominions Commission's report states that tlm nu-st urgent problem of Australia concerns the better distribution ot population and improved oversea communications At present the Dominions aro spending a ti r «.-at deal with doubtful success in an attempt to secure agricultural workers. It therefore is natural to suggest that some portions of the expenditure could m >re profitably Iμ? devoted ro bearing with the Mother Country a share of the oost of some system of Government farm-s for testing and training in the United "Kingdom. This 6ch< mo would be easier if emigration were placed under tho general control of the Australian Government. * EMIGRATION. Australasia mainly requires youth,s with adaptability. This requirement could be mot equally from tho towns as the country if suitab'o training were provided. Although Australasia needs more domestic servants, tho Commission is unable to endorse the view that a suitable surplus exists in the United Kingdom. Family migration is open to serious objections under the present arrangements, which aro susceptible of improvement. The system undor which emigriLts aro recruited is antiquated and defective. The arrangements in Australasia for ihe reception of women need attention and development. Moro immigrants aro needed to fill tropical and subtropical Australia, for which Malta seems a suitable recruiting ground. It would bo advantageous to divert to Australasia somo part of the present Irish migration. On immigrant ships provision ehould be made for adequate privacy, tho segregation of 6ingle women, and an increase of hospital accommodation. EMPIRE HARBOURS. The deepening of the larger Empire harbours is urgent to meet the further requirements of inter-Imperial trade. First-class harbours should have working depth of at least 40ft. MAIL SERVICES. The Commission regrets that it is unable to take a. favourable view of the oversea postal facilities enjoyed by Australia. Tho postal service is inadequate. Tho existing speed of mail services doos not justify Jarge subsidies, and if an enhanced speed is not obtainable at a, reasonable cost, tho Commission would prefer to see mails carried at statutory rates, and the money so saved devoted to improving Imperial communications in other directions. New routes to Australia are opening up, therefore it would not be justifiable to bind the States to a subsidised Suez service beyond a brief period. The termination of tho Peninsular and Oriental Company's contract renders the time opportune to re-examine the problem on broad Imperial lines. CABLE COMMUNICATION., . Australian cable rates are too high, restricting the use of the cables to the commercial classes, thus checking free intercourse between the Motherland and Dominions. The cables work far below their maximum capacity, and certain modifications of deferrod messages and week-end cables should bo made immediately. Daily cable letters should be introduced, and the minimum for week-end cables should bo reduced to twelve words at sixpence a word, to -which the British Post Office is favourably, disposed. . FREIGHT DISCRIMINATION. The Commission found freight discrimination against British snippers, by which certain British shipowners transport foods from the Continent to New Zealand at lower rates than from British ports. This is thoroughly unsatisfactory, and runs directly counter to the patriotic and Imperial intentions of the New Zoaland Legislature, and acts detrimentally on British trade. No adequate defence of this policy has been made, though repeated opportunities have been given. UNIFORMITY WANTED. Further co-ordination in statistical methods to secure uniformity is urgently desirable, and the Commission recommends the question to an Empire Conference of Statisticians. The pre-' ferential advantages granted to British goods is prejudiced to some extent by tho fact that each Dominion requires a different form of certificate of origin, and tho Dominion urges uniformity. The Commission is gratified at the cotton-growing experiments in Queensland, the'improvement of Port Phillip, and tho confining of Joan issues to definite and remunerative purposes.