The Press. THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 1914. THE DOMINIONS' COMMISSION.
Tlie summary of the report of the Dominions' Commission, which is continued to-day, deals mainly with Australia. So far as ono can judge from such a brief abstract, the Commissioners _eem to have come to some sound and common-sense conclusions. They state very truly that the most urgent problem, of Australia concerns tho better distribution of population and improved oversea communications. Australia has been making strenuous attempts during the last year or two to attract immigration, and with some success. The Commissioners, however, point out (he need of improvements in somo of the methods. In this respect Canada leads the way, and the Australian authorities might with advantage study tho methods adopted by the Great Dominion, not only in securing immigrants, hui, in making satisfactory arrangements for their reception and distribution Presumably, New Zealand will be dealt with in a separate report. Meanwhile somo passages in tho present report may bo taken as applying to the Dominion as well as to Australia. We are very glad to sco that the Commissioners fully recognise tho importance of cheaper cable rates. This is a point on which "TinPress" has insisted for many years past. Tho Commissioners state that the cables aro working far below their maximum capacity, and recommend that certain modifications of deferred messages and week-end cables should be mad© immediately. Daily "cable letters" should bo introduced, and the minimum for week-end cables should be reduced to twelve words at sixpence a word, a proposal to which the British Post Office is favourably disposed. As we have frequently pointed out, what is wanted i_ not so much a.cheaper tariff for commorcial messages as an opportunity for friends and" relatives separated by tho wide ocean to exchange occasional social messages at a rate within the compass of persons of only moderate means. , If this is carried out it will greatly lessen the pain and loneliness of separation, and will certainly be ono of the most effective means of binding the Empire together. Other points which affect New Zealand are the passages in the report referring to the deepening of the larger Empire harbours, mail services, discrimination in the matter of freights, and co-ordination in statistical methods to secure uniformity. Evidence was given by Now Zealand witnesses as to the.last poiut, the importance of which is self-evident. The Suez mail service, in view of other routes being opened up, cannot expect to receive the subsidies which it has enjoyed in the past, particularly as the existing speed does not justify large subsidies. The steady growth in the size of cargo steamers necessitates tho deepening of harbours for their accommodation, and the Commission considers that first-class harbours should have a working depth of at least .Oft. The Commission's condemnation of the system of freight discrimination against British shippers, by which, cei*tain British shipowners transport goods from the Continent at lower rates than from British, ports, will be endorsed by the public. When ono of the self-governing Dominions of the Empire patriotically concedes a lower tariff to' British goods than that levied on similar goods of foreign origin, it is simply monstrous that the intention of the Legislature should be nullified by specially favourable terms of freight being quoted by British shipowners to the foreign competitors of British manufacturers. If this practice is continued, it will be the duty of the various legislatures to consider seriously' whether they will allow their policy of encouraging British trade to bo flouted in this way.
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Press, Volume L, Issue 14887, 29 January 1914, Page 6
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586The Press. THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 1914. THE DOMINIONS' COMMISSION. Press, Volume L, Issue 14887, 29 January 1914, Page 6
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