EMPIRE TRADE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1568, 11 October 1912, Page 6

EMPIRE TRADE.

PLANS AND WORK OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION. THE NEW ZEALAND VISIT. - Some interesting information regarding the work and plans of the Empire Trade Royal Commission, which is to visit Now Zealand in March next, was given to a representative of The Dominion to-day by Mr. Malcolm Ross who was recently appointed New Zealand officer in connection with tho work and tour of tho Commission in tho Dominion. Mr. Ross stated that, according to cabled advice received the other day, it was tho intention of the Commission to reassemble early in October to hear evidence in tho United Kingdom, and to leave Loudon for New Zealand on January 10. The Commission may bo expected to arrive hero about tho end of February or the beginning of March. The present intention of tho Commission seems to be to make three tours in>diffcrout years to the selfgoverning Dominions. Tho first of those lours is the New Zealand and Australian one, and six months, approximately, is allowed for it, including the time for tho journey to and fro. This will mean about four weeks, at most, for the New Zealand tour, which will, possibly, bo re. stricted to the time required for the hearing of evidence in the centres of population, with, possibly somo allowance for visits to selected districts. Tho appointment of a Commission composed of representatives from Great Britain and the self-governing Dominions marks a new departure in connection with tho affairs of Empire, and, naturally, a Commission having its headquarters in London, but requiring to do a great part of its work in. tho self-governing Dominions, causes special interest to attach to its proceedings. Briefly put, tho work of the Commission will consist of an inquiry of the widest possible character into natural resources and facilities for the production, manufacture, aaid distribution of articles of commerce in the Dominions, and into the food and raw material requirements and trade of the. Dominions and the United Kingdom, with the object of offering suggestions for the development of those resources, and for 'the extension of that trade. Tho Commission will compile statistical information both as to existing and potential development of natural -resources, production, etc., of articles, of commerce, food, and raw material requirements and trade. ' It will also make a general inquiry into existing conditions of trade, and "a special inquiry into the question of migration from tho United ■ kingdom and of settlement in.the Dominions.' It will be seen that the question of migration has a very close relation to the development of natural resources and that increased development may lie expected to follow as a consequence of well-ground-ed suggestions for improvement of trade, conditions. Tho Commission.is desirous that all de-' portments of Governments and organisations ano" .persons of standing concerned shall have an opportunity of assisting it. Tho New Zealand officer has already held a conference with the chief clerk of the various Government Departments interested, the Under-Secretary for Internal Affairs, and tho Government Statistician also being present. At this conference the work of the compilation of statistics and the supplying of other Departmental information was allotted, and is now being industriously proceeded with. Communications, have also been sent to various local bodies, organisations, and firms throughout the Dominion asking if .they can give any information or evidence that will bo of value to the Commission in regard'to tluS questions of migration of population between, the United Kingdom and the. selfgoverning Dominions. Already somo valuable suggestions have been received, and, as tho work of tho Commission develops, no doubt, further suggestions, both as to migration and Empire trade, will bu obtained It will thus bo soon that a very largo part of the information to be placed before the commission will be got ready in New Zealand and transmitted to London in time to bo in the hands of tho Commissioners tefore they, sail for the Dominion. Tho idea of such action is to enable tho Commissioners to thoroughly familiarise themselves with the various matters that will engage their attention on their New Zealand tour. T-hoy will be able to devote some attention to the matter before leaving England, and to further study the mass of information available on "the voyage out. They will thus bo enabled to form an excellent idea, not only of tho naturo and extent of the products and industries of the country, Irat also of its potentialities as'a factor in inter-Imperial trade. Tho plan that is being adopted will effect a considerable saving of time in the work of the Commission. Tho, Not Zealand officer stales that it will further facilitate mnttors if all answers to memoranda and any suggestions of. value as to a possible improvement in Empire trade are made returnable to him in duplicate at as early a dnte as possible. The question of tho extent to which oral evidence will be taken in. the Dominion has yet to be decided. Apparently, owing to the limited tinio at the disposal of tho Commission, it will bo advisable for each of tho principal chambers of commerce and other public bodies interested to, later on, appoint one or two representatives who can satisfactorily state their views to tho Commission. On this point, however, further information will bo .available at a later date. Some regrets . have already been oxpressed that ovideuco cannot be submitted upon the question of preferential taraff as a means to an improvement m interImperial trade; but tho order of reference apparently prevents the raising of the fiscal issue, and the Commission- has de-' eided that, by tho terms of the reference, it is precluded from inquiring, into or receiving evidence as to the effect of' Customs or tariff laws. .... The Commission is now constituted as follows:—The Right Hon. Arnold Morloy, r.C. (Chairman), Sir Arthur Vincent, K.C.M.G., Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Charles John Owens, Sir Henry Rider Haggard, Mr. Tom Garnet*, Mr. William Lonmer (representing the United Kingdom) the Honourable George Eulas FosteV, LL;D. (Canada), Mr. Donald Campbell (Australia), the Hon. J. R. Sinclair (New Zealand), Sir Richard Soloman (South Africa), and tho Hon. Edgar Ronnie Bowning (Newfoundland). t Lord Inchcapa, Sir Joseph Ward, and Sir David Graaff (South Africa), who -were originally members of tho Commission, for various reasons resigned' their commissions.

POINTS FOR THE COMMISSION, INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION REMITS. The special business before tho com. mittco of tho Wellington Provincial Industrial Association' at its monthly meeting last evening, when Mr. L. R. Partridge presided over an attendance of thirteen members, was tho matter of considering points to be submitted to tho Imperial Trade Commission in April- ntxt. There was very little discussion upon tho reMr. .T. P. Luke moved: "That the existing Board of Trade in London be remodelled, and constituted on Imperial lines, provision to bo made for oversea dependencies to be represented oil tho same; for the establishment of similar boards in the oversea dependencies; for the initiating of proposals for tho extension of Empire trado; for the collection of statistics as to the natural resources of the Empire, and where additional industries could be successfully established; for affording the Empire's shipping knowledge as to fuel and nature of same, and facilities for docking and repairs on trade routes; for an interchange of communication as to tho conditions of. labour in all parts of the Empire, with a view toproviding more constant employment and unproved conditions for the British people;. and for an interchange of knowledge with the aim of stamping out or mitigating preventiblc diseases that may impair (he well-being of I he i Em pi re's shipping commerce and industrial activity." Mr. G. Norton seconded the motion. Mr. T. Ballinger said that his impression of the British Board of Trade was thnt it was something of "an old woman." The Titanic, disaster had brought the Board of Trade prominently beforo the nublie, and not in any way to its credit. It was out of dale, like a great mnny other consorvntivo institutions in W\°. Old Country. ' The motion was carried. Mr. Luke then moved as an additional subject for consideration, that united action tx> taien as to the policy to be adopXtad ia to tha cinnsed tjado' con..

ditions (hat, may result' from the use of the Panama' Canal. Speaking to the motion, Mr. Luke said thnt tho Canal was to liave been an open waterway, froo to all nations.. There were to bo no limitations. They now knew that preferential treatment was proposed to bo accorded to American shipping. Certain restrictions were placed upon British vessels trading to tho American coast which-wero not imposed upon American ships trading in British waters. The motion, was seconded by Mr. S. S. Williams, and carried without further discussion. It was also resolved, on! tho motion of Mr. Luke, seconded .by Mr. C. B. Norwood, to submit to (h'o commission tho question of formulating "a policy to secure stability of trado for Imperial ships in the Pacifio Ocean." Mr. Balliuger said that a matter which deserved some attention was tho presont unsatisfactory form of bills of lading. Ihese should be uniformly reworded, so as to act more fairly towards importers. There were too many'conditions on tho present bills of lading. Ho moved to that effect. Mr. G. Norton said that the bills of lading were too much in favour of tho shipping interests, and did not sufficiontly protect the shipper and the consignee. The shipping company should be asked to tako some of tho responsibility for the safe delivery of_goods. He seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr. M. Mnnlhel raised the question of cablo services, and moved to send forward, as a matter for consideration by the commission, "That the cost of cable communication should bo reduced as low ns possible, and that tho question of a new cable across the Atlantic, with a view to securing a State-controlled cable service from Great Britain to the furthermost parts of the Empiro, should bo considered."