EMPIRE TRADE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1969, 28 January 1914, Page 7

EMPIRE TRADE.

COMMISSION REPORTS.

THE NEEDS OP TO-DAY:

MAILS AND SUBSIDIES.

THE TIME NOW OPPORTUNE TO REVIEW PROBLEM By Telesraph-Preta Aneociation-Oopyrlfflt ■■- (Rec. Jaaua.-y 27, JO 35 p.m.) • ' " London, January 27. The Dominions Royal Trade Commission (Sir Edgar Vincent, chairman), which was'set up (as the result of a decision of the Imperial Conference)'to inquire into tho trade. resources of the l';mpire, h:i« issued its report. ■ Tho that the most urgent problem of Australia concerns tho bettor distribution of population and improved oversea communications. At present.the Dominions are spending a- great deal of money with doubtful success in attempts to secure agricultural workers. It'is therefore natural to suggest that somo portion of tho expenditure could be more profitably devoted to bearing with tho Mother Country a share of tho cost cf some system of Government farms for testing and training candidates in the United Kingdom. This scheme would bo easier if emigration wete placed under, general control. In Australia, even u'ljder the existing regime, the efforts are not without hope of suisess. ,;■! '' Immigration. ; ",,. On the question of immigiation, the [ Commission reports . that Australia mainly requires youths with adaptability, 'flu's requirement could bo met by i youths equally from the towns as from . the country, if suitable training were provided. 'Although Australasia needs move domestic servants, the Commission is unable to endorse the view ; that a suitable surplus exists in , the United Kingdom. . Faniijv • migration is open to serious, objections ( under tlie present arrangements, which are suseeptihlc of .improvement. The system under which emigrants are recruitcd is antiquated and defective. Arrangements in Australasia for tho reception oF women need attention and development. 'More- emigrants are needed to iiil tropical and subtropical Australia, and for this Malta seems a suitable- recruiting ground. It ivonld be advantageous; (the Commissioners think) to divert to Australasia some rmrt of the nrasent Irish 'mijr.itio7i. Kmigrav.it; ships should provide adequate privacy for the sMjfe'nation of singlo women, and should also increase hospital accommodation. Deepening of Harbours. Tho deepening of the larger harbours of the Empire is an urgent ■necessity, to meet tlio future reotiiromonts of iirterImperiel trade. Virst-dass harbours should have a working depth »f at least forty feet. ■ . - . ■£• Postal Facilities. The report expresses roßi'ofc that the Commission is unable to .take 9 favnnra]>lo view of the oversea postal facilities enjoyed li.V Australia. The postal sierrioo is inndcqiiate,. and tho esistiiin; siiecd of mail services docs not justify large suiwullos. ■'If.an ; enhanced speed is not obtainable, at j>. -reasonable cost the Commission wAiliil prefer to sec mails carried at statutory rates, and the money so. savor] devoted tn improving Imperial oomrtiiiniottinus- in other directions. New roulos <o Australia are opening up, and it is not therefore justifiable to bind peoplo. to ft Statesubsidised SVwss dprvico bovoud n. hriof period. Tho termination of tho British Government's contract, with the P. and 0. Company renders the time, opportune ■to re-examine the problem on broad Imperial lines. Cable Rates Too High. ■ Australian ennje'rntes are at present too high, restricting the use rf the ruble to the commercial classes, and ehcofciiic : free intercourse with the Motherland. Tho Dominions' cablws' work far below the maximum canseity, And certain, modification* in deferred messages find week-end cables should bo made immediately. Daily cable-letters should be introduced, nnd minimum week-end cabins should be reduced, in 'twelve werils sixpence n word. The British office is favourably -.dispaaed- to this course. . ■ . Frolgbt Bates'. ' : Tlie Commission found that thoro exists freight discrimination, ngainst British shippers, whereby certain Brl- ; tisli shipowners, trnilspos't foods from fcho Continent to New Zealand at' lower I ratos than. from British ports to Now Zealand. This is thoroughly unsatisfactory, and runs directly counter to the patriotic and Imperial.intentions of the New Zealand: Legislature and acts detrimentally to British trade. No adequate defence for such action could be made, though repeated opportunities were given for explanation. Other Matters. Further scientific investigation is desirable for the raising of water, supplies tor Australia. The substitution of tho bulk-handling of wheat for the present system of bagging is a question worthy of examination. Further coordination in statistical methods to secure uniformity is' urgently desirable. The Commission recommends the Empire Conference of Statisticians to give this matter preference, as it would be advantageous if granted. British goods aro prejudiced to some extent, the Commission thinks, by the fact that each Dominion requires a different, form of certificate, at the port of origin. It urges uniformity in this matter.

The Commission was gratified with tiro cotton-gwro-mfi experiments .in Queensland, tho improvement ofßort Phillip, and the confining of loan issues to definite remunerative purpose's.

Sir. lewis Hnramrt, the Colonial Secretary, in a statement in tho House of Commons when tho personnel of the Commission wn.s aniiO'imced, outlined the terms of reference, to which all tho Government!! concerned had ajrreed. Tho Commission was to inquire into and report upon the natural- resources of tho Dominion of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, Una Dominion of New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, and the Colniiy of Newfoundland, and further to rejwrt upon the development of such resources, upon the facilities for the prodnctioi).'innnufachrce, and distribution of all articles of commerce in tha-p pnrls of the Empires nnd noon thfl> tr.nd<> of pncli such pdi't of tii<> Kinpire with the other darts, ivitli the Unitprf Kingdom aitil wiUi tho i'pjt of the world. There , was also to be « reuovt as (0 the , extent to which (ho mutual trade of the several parU of tlip Empire had been or was bt'jng affected lieneficu)3.v or ©tliwwi-e by law? now in force, othci' than Isws, ami Die Commission was to suuge.st an,v ntethods, which wero oonsislcnt. with Hie MisriJiß fiscal policy of eaoSi part of thi> EniHire, hv which the l.r.ide of owh pirf 'v'iiii tho othevß nnd with the United K'"ni--110111 might lie iinpravcd niul extended.