IMPERIAL RELATIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 10 November 1930, Page 6

IMPERIAL RELATIONS

SOME KNOTTY POINTS. [United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. J LONDON, Nov. 7. The heads of the delegations at the Imperial Conference do not meet again until Monday, but the interim will be occupied in drafting reports 'for the consideration of the plenary sitting of the Conference.

It is unlikely that the Imperial Conference will be able to complete its Work next week. Several constitutional issues, involving intricate technical questions, remain to be disposed of, including those of nationality, the question of appeals to the Privy Council, the form of issue of the exequaturs to foreign consuls. In addition to the constitutional questions raised there is also a report on the operation of Dominion legislation, while, on the economic side decisions by the heads of the delegations are awaited on the various proposals which have been examined in committee to secure closer inter-imper-ial co-operation.

The heads of the delegations will take up the consideration of .some of these matters on Monday, but no date has been fixed for a plenary session of the Conference. Several reports on less controversial .subjects are ready for submission to the heads.

The reports yet to come up include that of the Committee on Standarisation, in preparing which industrial experts have assisted the technicians attached to the delegations. This report deals with units of . measurement and industrial standardisation. The units 'in question include the yard and the pound, as well as electrical standards, like the ohm and the volt. The report recommends that each dominion and India he provided with a reference standard for each unit of measurement. These to be compared regularly with the originals. The second part of the report recognises the value of standardisation as a means of economy and etfficency in the interests alike of producers and consumers. It urges the setting up of .a central standardising ■body in any Dominion where one does not already exist, and also urges that the central bodies should receive official support financially through the i Government purchasing departments. 'otheKWisej the report recommends a regular systematic consultation between the various parts of the Empire with a view of establishing uniform standard specifications. The issue by each standardising body of a mark or brand, to be applied under license, is recommended. The great need is stressed of a simplification, by a reduction of a variety of sizes, dimensions, and immaterial' differences in everyday commodities with the object of eliminating waste, and reducing the cost of production.