A.—6a

42

4. Further Steps for the Improvement of Mutual Trade — ,(A.) Imperial Co-operation in respect of Commercial Intelligence— (i.) Commercial Diplomatic and Consular Services. (ii.) Commercial Travellers' Samples. (iii.) Trade Catalogues. (B.) Statistics. (C.) Imperial Communications — (i.) Shipping — (a.) Imperial Shipping Committee. (b.) Carriage of Goods by Sea. (ii.) Air Navigation. (iii.) Cables and Wireless. (D.) Reciprocal Enforcement of Judgments, including Arbitration Awards. (E.) Imperial Co-operation with reference to Patents, Designs, and Trade-marks. (F.) Economic Defence. (G.) Customs Formalities — (i.) Valuation of Goods for Customs Duty Purposes. (ii.) International Conference: on Customs Formalities. (II.) Empire Currency and Exchange. (J.) Co-operation for Technical Research and Information. (K.) Immunity of State Enterprises. 5. Imperial Policy with regard to the Import and Export of Live-stock. 6. Imperial Policy with regard to Forestry. 7. Workmen's Compensation. 8. Imperial Economic Committee. In the following pages each subject of the above: Agenda is treated vseparately and in the order of the Agenda, the relevant memoranda and reports being printed after the account of the proceedings under each main head.

OVERSEA SETTLEMENT WITHIN THE EMPIRE. In discussing the question of oversea settlement the Conference had before them the Memorandum I.E.C. (23)-l, printed on page 59. The proceedings were opened|at the Third Meeting, held on the sth October, 1923, by Colonel Buckley, as follows : — Colonel Buckley: Any discussion on empire settlement, if it is to be really fruitful, should be a frank discussion. The subject is so important, so vital to the best interests of our Empire, that to hedge it around with finesse woulel be fatal to its true interests. Therefore in my account of what has been accomplished under the Empire Settlement Act I propose to be perfectly frank in dealing with the difficulties which have confronted us, and in that spirit I invite discussion, assistance, and criticism. We shall never see this problem in its true: perspective, nor attain the conclusions which will bring us within measurable distance of its solution, unless we are prepared to speak fully what is in our minds. The 1921 Conferences. The. present Conference will remember that the policy of State-aided Empire settlement, which is now in operation, is the outcome of two Conferences which were held in 1921. The first Conference took place in January anel February of that year. The opening meeting was presided over by Viscount Milne:r, at that, time Secretary of State for the Colonies and President of the Oversea Settlement Committee, anel at subsequent meetings the chair was taken by Mr. Amery, who was then Chairman of the Committee. Ever since the Armistice Mr. Amery has been most intimately associated with this work ; and I believe that, this great problem of Em [lire: settlement has been, and is, one of the absorbing interests of his life. He is here to-day, and will, I hope, speak at a later stage, of our proceedings. The first Conference: of 1921 decided to advocate co-operation in a comprehensive policy of Empire land-settlement and Empire-directed migration between the Government of this country and the Governments of those parts of the Empire suitable for settlement from these; islands. That Conference appears to have taken a wide view of this problem, and here I should like, if 1 may, to say one word of recognition of the valuable; help given by the chief Australian delegate, Senator Millen, whose death unfortunately occurred a few weeks, ago. The Conference were of opinion that Empire settlement shoulel be of great value in establishing anel strengthening the Empire, and in distributing in those parts of the Empire where they are needed a population whose ideas and sympathies are British. Ace;ordingly, they proposed that the Governments of the Dominions concerned anel of this country should join in a policy of co-operation, both financially and in all other respects, for assisting the settlement of migrants from this country in other parts of the Empire. The Prime Ministers' Conference which mot in June wholly endorsed the recommendations of the; earlier Conference, and passeel a resolution in favour of effective co-ope;ration, subject to parliamentary sanction, by the several Dominions, though General Smuts would, I think, wish me to remind you that