EMPIRE INFORMATION.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1969, 28 January 1914, Page 3

EMPIRE INFORMATION.

KOYAL COLONIAL INSTITUTE ■ ... BUREAU. \ •■■ An interesting development- has taken placo in connection with the Information Bureau, now.being organised as aDepartment of tho rK-tryali -Colonial. In- I stitute. Tho bureau lifts been organised with two distinct purposes in view, namely, to deal with inquiries ma-clc personally or by letter to the institute, and to distribute information concerning the resources and opportunities for trade and enterprise that exist iii the oversea Dominions.of the Empire. ' Reviewing shortly ths first purpose of the bureau, inquirios will be answered from the information at tho disposal of tho institute concerning—(a) Tho resources and opportunities for trade, on- ! terpriso, and employment in tho overseas Dominions of the Empire. For this work there will bo a distribution to applicants of official pamphlets of the selfgoverning Dominions, and the publications of {Crown Colony Governments, Chambers of Commerce, Boards of Trade overseas, and such official aud semi-official literature.,, (b) . Empire transportation and inter-communica-tion.. For thia work circulars, timetables, and pamphlets will be avaiiabk : for distribution, (el The facilities and nmsnities of lifo in tho Mother Country. This branch of tho work is ior the convenicnco.of non-resident Follows nnd Asfociates of tho institute visiting t-lio Mother Country, and will include the giving of practical information (not advice; concerning educational facilities, medical treatment, li&tels, and such liko accommodation, amusements, places of interest to visit; etc. Ail-other part of tho work of tho bureau is of a more active and enterprising character. As a result of preliminary steps taken some months ngo, the municipalities of tho principal cities in the overseas Dominions have agreed io- furnish from timo to time to the Information Bureau early notification of sanctioned expenditure upon municipal work involving contracts within and mirehaso of material, 'etc., outside their re.s-pcctivo Dominions. The bureau will undertake to forward swell information to those British firms who havo previously notified that they aro desirous of receiving it, and, ii\ order that such information may be supplied without delay, a British manufacturers' index will be- available in tho institute building showing under their respective products the names and addresses of British manufacturers, together witls the overseas market with which they am desirous of eut<Tin» inti i business relationship. 'Such firms will have their iiahies inscribed in the index. : which will lime tho additional value of being in constant use for reference, not ' J only by the 'resident-Fellows of tho in- ' stitute, but by ilioss of its overseas members who visit the stother Country 1 periodically, in many cases for the express purpose of entering into business negotiations with Britisiriirms.