Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1912. TRADE INTERESTS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 18 April 1912, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1912. TRADE INTERESTS.

WITHIN THE EMPIRE. ON several occasions recently, wo have touched upon subjects which have brought into prominence questions relating to tariff matters and commercial conditions generally. For instance, when dealing with the forthcoming Presidential election in America, the high protectionist tariff' was referred to as being a primary cause of the high cost of living, and in Germany, the same things have been observed. On the other hand, when tlie general conditions likely to be brought about by the introduction of the minimum wage in Great Britain have been reviewed, reference has been made to the necessity that will doubtless then exist, if indeed it does not exist already, for some sort of protection to enable England to compete in manufactures with countries where low wages and other special conditions, combine to make tiie cost of production lower than in Tinglanil. 11 is perfectly evident that changing conditions must necessarily bring the need for revision of national policies, es-

pecially in regard to tariff matters. Unfortunately, in English politics it has been a party question, and it is even possible that the fiscal policy may be determined by such matters as Home Rule, National Insurance, etc., which may be determining factors in elections. No one can deny that important readjustments must be l'tlilde. aii(l in these circumstances the Imperial Trade Commission. which is shortly to commence a well-directed and conscientious iiiquiry into the trade interests of the Empire, is of special importance. Whilst reference has previously beert made to this matter, it is nevertheless interesting to inquire into issues that have not yet been touched upon. The oversea dominions, like the Mother Country, have suffered immensely through having had their trade interests mixed up witfci political considerations, and it is to minimise as much as possible, the inherent disadvantages of such a situation that the Commission was brought into existence. In this loosely knit Empire, with the component parts possessing diverse as well as common interests, it is really necessary, especially in the absence of the much-needed Imperial Council, that a close and imparital inquiry should be made into the effect of certain policies iii relation to the whole. Another object of tfie Commission is to promote cooperation between the various parts of the Empire in commercial and industrial matters of common interest.

It was Sir Wilfrid Laurier, then Prime Minister of Canada, who, at the Imperial Conference, following on a suggestion by Mr Fisher, Commonwealth Pre mirr, remarked that it would be difficult to bring about the movement desired, "unless they had more information than they had at present" ; and Vie went on to urge the appointment- of a representative Commission for the purpose of "investigating and reporting upon the natural resources of each part of the Empire, the development attained and att-ainable, and "-he facilities for production, manufacture. and distribution, as well as the extent to which the trade between the ditlci'tnt parts had been affected by legislation, Mr Harcourt, Secretai-y of State for the Colonies, suggested that it should report upon "What methods, consistent with the existing fiscal policy of each part, ' would be best calculated to extend such trade. And shortly the Commission will be at work, and important and valuable will doubtless be the information collected. It is most satisfactory, so far as New Zealand is concerned, ■ that the country will be represented by one so fully qualified by experience and capabilities for the position, as Sir Joseph Ward.