COMMERCE MINISTER

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2716, 10 March 1916, Page 5

COMMERCE MINISTER

FUTURE THE EMPIRE liy Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright London, March 8. A deputation representing commercial and industrial interests waited on Mr. Asquith and asked for the establishment of the office of Minister of Commerce, ivho should be a business man. Mr.' Asquith pointed out that it had been arranged to hold a conference in Paris shottly at which the whole question of commercial and economic relations would be debated. "The Government," he said, "has tc consider not only the interests, of ~tht United Kingdom, but those of tho Dominions. I am glad to see Mr. Hughes in London. Mr. Reginald M'Keniw (Chancellor of tho Exchequer) and Mr Bonar Law (Secretary of State for the Colonies) and myself have had the opportunity of conferring with him..-Mr, Hughes conies with very definite ideae and concrete proposals on this matter. It is most desirable that we should heai what the' Premiers of Australia, Aev Zealand, and South Africa havo;to :say and be prepared at any conference oi ne"otiations to act, not only as spokesmen for the United Kingdom; but till Empire. My whole hope is that we shal bo able to arrive at absolution satisfac tory to our Allies, the Dominions, anc the United Kingdom, but in view ot th< consultations wo shall have with tin representatives of the Alaes and tin Dominions, it is inexpedient at preseiv to make a definite announcement ot till policy the Government will advocate.