EMPIRE TRADE SUGGESTIONS BEFORE DOMINIONS COMMISSION

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 48, 26 February 1913, Page 3

EMPIRE TRADE SUGGESTIONS BEFORE DOMINIONS COMMISSION

'EVIDENCE • IN DUNEDIN. (BY TELECtBATH — PRESS ASSOCIATION.) DUNEDIN, 25th February. Before the Dominions Royal Commission to-day, j\ir. Loudon submitted a number of remits from the Chamber of Commerce, dealing with the advisability of establishing an Empire development and leferenco bureau wiih headquarters in London, with a view to expanding the natural, resources of the Empire and encouraging tho investment of capital, to provide protection, for investors, and examine facts, and vouch for tho accuiacy of all prospectuses ; also advocating the establishment cf Emphe national exhibitions, consideration of lha question i>f an- -equitable reciprocal arrangement, providing for subsidies and for shipping facilities, and the bringing of commercial and merchant shipping laws throughout the Empire into closer conformity. Further, that the cost of cable communication should -be reduced as far as possible, and that representations should be made to tlie Imperial Postal Department with a view to securing a materially reduced charge on overseas newspapers posted in the United Kingdom. Mr. Loudon also advocated simplification of the patent laws and the establishing of a national patent office. Mr. Johnstone, managing director of Wright, Stephenson, .and Co., submitted a memorandum fo the frozen meat industry,, advocating improvement of flocks and herds by breeding, and .raising the freezing companies' reputation regarding reepectivo trade markisj and that th<s> High Commissioner bring the whole weight of the Dominion's influence to bear on tho British Port Authorities in order to obtain better facilities for the discharge, storage, and delivery of frozen meat. In answer to Sir Eider Haggard, Air. Johnstone said the greatest trouble was at the London docks. The meat did not get fair play when it left the ship's hold. To Mr. Lorimer : He was satisfied that they had not reached the capacity of over-production by. a very long way. They would continue to pi-ogress for generations. They could increase the dairy output also. Mr. Johnstone also urged the completion of All Red cable communication between Britain and Australasia, and the establishing of a system of deferred cable messages. In answer to questions, Mr. Johnstone said he did not ' think there should be much difference Between the rates for code and plain word messages. He thought the cables should be used to bring all parts of the Empire closer together commercially and socially, and that this tie should be in the hands of our own people. Mr. T. Garnett remarked that in London big commercial exchanges quoted market movements most accurately, and the High Commissioner possessed those sources of information. The Chairman : It is largely a matter between you and your High Commissioner. Mr. Loudon read a memorandum from Mr. G. Pen wick in which he advocated cheapened cable messages and consideration of the reduction of English postal fates on overseas newspapers sent to Great Britain and reposted there to friends and subscribers throughout the Kingdom. Another memorandum presented by Mr. Loudan was in support of Empire national exhibitions. It was stated that the holding of isuch- a series of exhibitions as proposed in say London, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and possibly India, at intervals of- three years would lead to an extensive and mutual exchange of visitors from one part of the Empire to another, most of whom would be business men with families. Such exhibitions would be solely for advertising the Empire, not to bring together the products of other competing nations. There was a feeling in the colonies that British manufacturers are slow to adopt new methods. He did not think the colonial Governments would shrink from the expense. He did not admit that the exhibitions would entail a loss. Mr. J. Inglis Wright said the main idea was to create the means of bringing the people of the Empire closer together, each country preparing for the show whatever it had as specialties. NATIONAL PATENT OFFICE. Mr. Loudon also enlarged upon the subject of patents and trade marks, advocating uniformity throughout the Empire. The form of application prescribed for ordinary cases in the United Kingdom was admirably simple, requiring only the signature of the . applicant in two places, and if the same form was prescribed throughout the Empire many petitions, declarations, and other useless documents at present required in some States would be abolished. The question of establishing a national ' patents and trade marks office *in London was worthy of most careful consideration. To conserve the iwenues of individual States, the Empire could be divided into sections, and a sliding scale of, fees prescribed. Registration of trade marks could be carried out with a central office in London, and sub-offices in each State. . . To Mr. Campbell : The establishment of a central oiiice would involve the unification of the patent laws. - To Sir Alfred Bateman : If they could not get absolute uniformity in the British Empire, he would favour approximate uniformity by adhering to international conventions. Ho had a preference for the English patent law in some vespects, because of its simplicity. Mr. J. B. Park, patent agent, said he had been established in Dunedin about twenty years. Tho new Patent Lav passed in New Zealand in 1911 \va3 expressly moulded on the English Act, | except in the matter of the working ot | patents. It would be desirable to have an Empire patent law so that,, instead of men having twenty or thirty laws to comply with, they would have only one. To Sir Alfred Bateman : He did not think the compulsory working provisions in England were advisable. Provision should be in force there that was in force in New Zealand and Australia, namely, that if a patent was not working and a person commenced to work it he was not infringing the patent if he got an order from the Court that it was not being worked. To Mr. Tatlow : Uniformity in regard to the duration of patents existed at present in the United Kingdom and Dominions, except Canada. Canada gave 18 years, and in other British countries 14 years was allowed. SHIPPING LAWS. Mr. W. E. Reynolds -read a memorandum on commerce and merchant shipping laws, advocating closer conformity than at present existed. It was stated that at present a sale on f.o.b. terms threw on the buyer the onus of proving in the event of dispute that the goods shipped were not, up to standard. Ihe same applied to c.i.f., etc/, sales, except that the heller provided insurance, freight, and exchange. ]fc should be made possible iot the seller, in the evcnl/ of refusal of draft, to sue and have judgment entered in his favour at the

port of shipment, judgment to carry the right of execution at the ppit of destination without the necessity of taking further action there, as was the case at present. The position should be made much more definite viith reference to c.i.f. sales?, and something moie definite should be laid down as to ship's liability iv connection with stoiage of goods. The Chairman : you practically want an alteration of this ' law. It is not a question of uniformity? Witness : My opinion is that even if tho samo uniformity of terms was brought about thioughout the, Empire, it would help matters very much indeed. The Chairman : It is the difference in commercial practice in different parts you want to see brought into uniformity? Witness : t think without altering the lav/ at oil the terms could be brought into such uniformity that they would become usual. The Chairman: t don't think we can really take any useful action on this point. It seems to involve alteration of law in different parts of the , Empire. Have you any idea as to how what you devise can be brought about? Witness : Take selling f.o.b. The Hon. J. R. Sinclair: That would involve legislation. The Chairman, after further discussion, said he thought the point was too legal. Mr. Reynolds said the clause relating to liability of ships was very important. The Chairman: If really wants the highest legal professional to deal with it. We will take your statement and put it into the evidence. Mr. Reynolds said he had brought the matter up with the object that t]ie_ points raised might be ventilated, and with the hope that some good might come of it. IMMIGRATION. Mr. Arber (secretary of the Dunedin Expansion League) _ read a memorandum on the subject of immigration. He referred to the unsuitability of men who worked their passages out here. They were rarely equipped with sufficient knowledge of any skilled trade «r facilities for making even a bare living. As showing the real need for apprentices, he stated that many firms were prepared to pay the passages of bovs^ and girls in order to attempt to fill their wants. One wholesale clothing and boot manufacturer had been short of hands for the last four years, and at the present time could do with 50 additional employees — men. ! women, and children. Tiflie-expired ( men of the Navy, Army, and Marine Forces might make very suitable - immi- ! grants. ( t The Commission will sit again tomorrow.