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Appreciation of the Spirit in which Oversea Representatives approached the Conference. The Chairman: Gentlemen, lam very grateful to Mr. Massey, Mr. Bruce, Mr. Graham, Mr. Innes, Sir William Macintosh, anel Sir Patrick McGrath for the far too kind things they have said. It has been a real privilege to be associated with you all in the work of this Conference, and I would like to say at once that 1 would associate myself most whole-heartedly with the appreciation which has been expressed of the work of the Secretariat, and I include in that, as I know the members of the British Secretariat would, the consistent help which they have received from the, oversea members of the Secretariat in their work. I am not sure that the rapid working, at any rate, of any Conference docs not elepend as much upon having an efficient Secretariat as upon anything e;lse, and we certainly have been extremely fortunate in that respect. It has not been at all n difficult Conference to preside over, although many of the subjects have boon difficult, and some delicate. It has not been difficult to preside: eiver the-. Conference because of the men we have had to work with, anei because, I think, of three other things. In the; first place, we have approached, this Conference; with, the intention of working in a thoroughly businesslike way, and I think we have all done that. We have also approached it with the knowledge that on every subject that has come up we coulel speak perfectly frankly to one another, anel if we did not feel that, and had not done that, half the value of the Conference would have gone. But, above all, every one who has take:n part in this- Conference, as has been clear from the deliberations and from tho conclusions, has approached every subject, while: rightly expressing the individual interests which he hail at stake in the matter, with the great overriding common purpose that in everything we did we shoulel try to promote the object of this Conference —namely, the development of Imperial resources and the promotion of Imperial trade:. I think we have done a good deal, but the work has only begun, anel I am perfectly certain that this Conference has laid foundations upon which we shall build much more in the future. Thanks to Mr. Davidson and the Press. May 1 also say what I. know all eif us would fee] -that is, the obligation we are under to Mr. Davidson for the very difficult task which lie took up at the outset and has carrieel on throughout? I know that the Press themselves have alreaely expressed to Mr. Davidson their appreciation of the way in which that work has been dischargoel. We: all felt it most desirable that the fullest publicity that was consistent with the public interest shoulel be given to the work of this Conference clay by day, and that could not have been clone if we: hael not had somebody as competent and as zealous in the discharge of that duty as Mr. Davidson. I must also say that I think the Press has responded, most completely to the efforts which we: made for publicity, and I think our thanks are duo to Mr. Davidson and to the Press for the fact that the public lias been fully informed throughout our deliberations of all that we were doing. On be-half of all my colleagues I thank you again. We could have had no greater pleasure or privilege than to have been associated with you in the work of the Economic Conference. (The proceedings of the Conference then terminated.)

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