EMPIRE TRADE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1566, 9 October 1912, Page 9

EMPIRE TRADE.

« , ... - AND THE ROYAL COMMISSION. SOME PROPOSALS. ~ (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) , Dunedin, October 8. At. a meeting of tho Dunedin Chamber of Commerco to-day tho sub-committee which had been appointed to deal with a request from the Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs on behalf of the Trade of Empiro Boyal Commission, reported that the following letter had been forwarded to the Wellington committee, to submit the following suggestions of remits:— (1) Advisableness of establishing a General Development Bureau with headquarters in London, for the purpose of expanding and developing the natural resources of the various parts of tho Empire:—, (a) To encourage the investment _ of capital, and provide for tho protection of investors, and also to examine facts and vouch for the accuracy of prospectuses. , (b) Each self-governing part of tho Empire to set aside a certain sum annually for systematic prospecting unit experimenting under expert and unbiased officials. (c) That the results of such research, bo interchanged, and made available at branches in all parts of the Empire. 2. With a view to expanding the trado and commerce of tho Empire, national exhibitions be held at periods of three years, alternating in different parts of the Empire, the loss, if any, to be borne by the Government of that part of the Empire in which tho exhibition is held. 3. To consider the question of some equitable and reciprocal arrangement to provide subsidies for shipping facilities between points of Empiro and elsewhere. 4. With a view to increase trade and manufactures, emigration should be encouraged to the younger countries of the Empire. . , . 5; That it would be of assistance to trade 1 and commerce if the commercial laws throughout the Empire were brought into closer conformity than at present. 6. That consideration should _bo given to the question of patent laws in Hie direction of simplification and also the ieasj ability of establishing a national patent it is,of importance to •overseas section of Empire:— (a) That the cost of cable communication should be reduced as low as possible, and that tie question of a new cable across tho Atlantic, with a view to securing a State-controlled cable service from Great Britain to the furthermost ■ parts ot Empire should be considered. , ■ (b) That the English Postal Department should have suggestions made to it by the Empire Trade Commission, having for their object the securing ot ■ materially-reduced charges on overseas newspapers posted in the United King- .: dom. * CHRISTCHURCH. FOKEIGN SUBSIDY QUESTIONS. • (Bj Toleeraph.—Press Association.! '' Christchurch, October 8. Last month a meeting of business men held in Christchurch to consider tho question of local ovidenco to be given beforo the Empiro Trade Commission when that body reaches Christchurch; At that' meeting wero appointed representing agricultural and pastoral, trade and commerce, industrial, and harbour interests, to make inquiries -and supply information in reference to their respective departments, these to be forwarded to the Dominions Royal Commissioner through the Minister for Internal Affairs. . Tho committees met and prepared statements to be forwarded to the Minister. The report of tho Harbour and Transport" Facilities Committee states that transport facilities at Lyttelton are, with tho exception of some rauch-nesded improvements *t(J itliAl raibvayosei'WcG between Lyttelton and Christchurch adequate for present trade , working. Tho depth of .water and berthage accominodatioil at tho :port of Lyttelton 1 are' sufficient' for' present requirements, and are being increased is required.' The committee express the opinion .that the present steamship lines trading to the Dominion are quite able to cope with existing trade. There was usually no difficulty, in getting shipping space, except in times of exceptional harvest, ivhen it became necessary .to charter specially. Tho committee, howover, consider that the subsidies paid by foreign Governments to thoir lines of steamships were having an appreciably inimical effeot on British trado to New Zealand. Tho shipping companies which did trade to New Zealand, wishing to avoid the competition of such foreign subsidised vessels, carried goods from Continental ports shipped in London by their boats at a substantially lower rate than British goods, thus putting the foreign raanu- ' 1 facturer.and merchant on the same footing as regards freights as if they shipped their goods by their own subsidised steamers. The effect of the opening nf the Panama Canal should be in the direction of increasing trade facilities, but. tho committee, viewed with apprehension the proposals of the Goi'erumeht of the United States to differentiate charges in favour of American shipping, which proposal, if given effect to, must prejudicially affect British Imperii)! trade. The American shipping laws, in regard to ■coastal trade, must also have a siihilarly prejudicial effect. The committee was also of opinion that some definite steps should be taken towards tho encouragement of direct, trade via Canada and between the British Dominions generally. The,. Trade and Commerce Committee, .in .their report, state that they Tegard 'tho execution of questions bearing upon, the Customs and tariff laws as fatal to the fullest usefulness, of the commission, but, as that matter was precluded by the order of reference, the committee regretfully passed dt by. The committee desired to call the earnest attention of the commission to the mischief which, was being done to British trade with New Zealaud by subsidies on freight paid by European "Governments to its manufacturers on goods sent abroad. The subsidies were so large that the goods could be carried from European ports and transhipped at London into New Zealand trading steamers at less freight charges than British goods could be brought from London to Lyttelton. That action on tho part of European Governments called for some counter movs by the Imperial Government. The committee was of opinion that the establishment of an AIIKed route would do much, to foster trade within the Empire. The effect that tho Panama Canal might have upon trade in those sea? was a question winch should, engage attention, but New Zealand's distance from America, tho newness of the subject,-and-the paucity of information precluded the committee from offering any opinion on the question. The export of wool, meat, and dairy produce formed so large a portion. Of th<- revenue of the commnn.itv that it was necessary that those interests should be conserved. Tho trade of tho Dominion was so hampered by the scarcity of all kinds of labour that any remedy that could be devised would add greatly to the smoother workiug of industries. v