EMPIRE TRADE COMMISSION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1412, 12 April 1912, Page 5

EMPIRE TRADE COMMISSION.

PROPOSED ITINERARY. By Tclesraph-Press Association-Copyright London, April 10. The Empire Trade Commissioners will shortly meet.in London to arrange tho itinerary of the tour. It is expected that Australia will be the first country visited. NO PAY FOR BRITISH AIEMBERS. (Rcc. April 11, 9.35 p.m.) London, April 11. Replying in the House of Commons to Sir Gilbert Parker. Air. Harcourt, Secretary of State for the Colonies, said that no salaries would be paid to the British Commissioners, but their expenses would be defrayed and a subsistence allowance given when abroad. Sir Gilbert Parker gave notice of his intention at the earliest opportunity to call attention to the composition of the Commission. OBJECTS OF THE SCHEME. The initiative for the Empire Trade Commission was taken at. the Imperial Conference last year by Sir "Wilfrid l.aurier, who moved— That the conference approach the King and request the appointment of a Royal Commission representing Great Britain and the oversea Dominions, to investigate the natural resources and the development attained and attainable, and the facilities for the production, manufacture, and distribution of trade in each part of the Empire with the other parts of the Empire and the outside w.orld; (b) The food and raw material requirements of each part of the Empire, and the sources thereof available; and

(c) 'J'o what extent the trade between the different parts of the Empire is affected by existing legislation, beneficially or otherwise.. The motion was carried, with the following addition, suggested -by the Secretary of State for Ihe Colonics (Mr. rVnrcourr):— By what methods, consistent with the existing fiscal policy of each part of the Kmoirc, trade can be improved and extended. II r. JT.'ireourt, explaining the scope of his amendment, doited it to be understood that tlie Koyal Com mission was nut intended to make recommendations of one policy for the Dominions or for the Alothrr Country, lint was to put the whole Empire in a better position for future co-operation. ' His aim, indeed, was to exclude the fiscal o,ue?tiun, as such, from consideration.