COMMERCE COMMISSION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 299, 14 June 1912, Page 5

COMMERCE COMMISSION

VIEW'S ON PREFERENCE. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London, June 12. The congress of Chambers of Commerce is sitting in London. It was resolved that the next congress should be held in Toronto. One hundred and twenty-two Chambers favoTed the motion for preference and nine were against it. Fifty-eight did not vote. The King held a reception for delegates at Buckingham Palace. EMPIRE TRADE. London, June 12. The Empire Trade Committee of the Colonial Institute has memorialised the Empire Trade Commission, urging the establishment of an Empire development fund on the lines proposed by Australia in the 1907 Imperial Conference. The committee suggests that the difficulty of the apportionment of the fund might be overcome by leaving each Dominion free to vote* what it pleases. Probably Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom might readily vote money to facilitate communication by the Atlantic, Pacific and Panama, while the Commonwealth and New Zealand might contribute with a view to reducing the Suez Canal dues. The scheme might lead to subsidised mail services being arranged jointly with a view to economic co-ordination.

TARIFF CONCESSIONS. RECIPROCAL ARBITRATION AWARDS. A BRILLIANT BANQUET. Received 13, 10.10 p.m. London, June 13. At the Chambers of Commerce Conpress Sir Albert Spicer declared that Australia bad made it clear that she did not want tariff concessions which were not in Great Britain's own interests. There was no human possibility of the British electors agreeing to tax food for the sole benefit of the overseas Dominions. Mr. E. Trcadwin (Australia) urged that it was the duty of tho Motherland to listen to the voice of the colonies in the matter of preference. The London Chamber's motion in favor of the enforcement in one part of the Empire of arbitration awards and judgments in another part was carried. Mr. Hedges (Westralia) asked what good it was to ask for legislation to enforce awards in other parts of the Empire when they were unable to enforce them in their own country. The industrial award in Australia was openly flouted by the men. Three hundred were present at the congress banquet, Sir ! W. Vernon-Har-court presiding. Sir Geo. Reid, replying to the toast of the Imperial Forces, said that he would like to see the army increased. Partial conscription was the only satisfactory way. The establishing of colonial navies by monetary contribution to the Imperial Government and employing vessels was equivalent to a contribution. Mr. S. Buxton, replying to the toast of Parliament, referred to the satisfactory results of the Trade Commissioners in the Dominions. Referring to industrial nnrest, he hoped that their colonial friends would assist the Motherland to bring capital and labor to work together for the common good. Sir Algernon Firth, replying to the toast of Chambers of Commerce, said that over two hundred millions of British capital were pxported last year. Whereas thirty-six millions went to Canada, only three and a half millions went to Australia. Mr. J. M. Paxton (Syd—vl paid that the presence of foreign Powers at no great distance demanded Australia's watchfulness and the necessity of founding her own navy and training her own youth.