TRADE FACILITIES

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 108, 3 November 1923, Page 7

TRADE FACILITIES

ECONOMIC CONFERENCE

RECIPROCAL OPERATIONS

PAST DECISIONS REAFFIRMED.

(UNITED PRBSS ASSOMAIION.-WPTRIGBT.)

(AUSTRALIAN - .NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received 3rd November, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, 2nd November.

The Economic Conference is devoting its future sittings to the consideration of reports from the expert committees, of which there are nearly twenty, upon the majority of which Australia and New Zealand are fully represented. At to-day's sitting the Conference received committee reports relating to the immunity of State enterprises from taxation, the reciprocal enforcement of judgments, and arbitration awards within the Empire., bills of lading, and patents. The Cuntoreiice ratified the committee's proposal \ to subject State trading enterprises, including shipping, whether British or foreign, to the same taxation and other obligations as private enterprises. This resolution i s without prejudice to the rights of State or provincial Gov-ernments,-and will also not be retrospective before the end of 1924.

In reference to bills of lading, the Conference recommended the adoption throughout the Empire of the common form of exporter's invoice now used in Australia and' New Zealand. It also recommended the Board of Trade to draw up a system of statistics setting out the development of inter-Imperial trade. The meeting recommended the use of bills of lading in accordance with the Imperial Shipping Committee's report of

The adoption of the proposals of the 1911 Conference regarding reciprocity of judgments, subject to the approval of the States and provinces, was recommended.

In reference to reciprocal » registration of patents throughout the Empire, the Conference recommended its adoption by the colonies and protectorates, but was unable to- recommend it as far as the self-governing Dominions are concerned. ■.

A committee of the Economic Conference is inquiring into the Spahlinger treatment, and Dr. Collins, of New Zealand, who has investigated the treatment, will be the first witness examined.