EMPIRE TRADE COMMISSION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 18 February 1913, Page 5

EMPIRE TRADE COMMISSION

WELCOME AT MELBOURNE

(Prkks Association —Copybiqhx.)

MELBOURNE, Feb. 17.

Speaking; at the welcome at the Town Hall to the Commission, the Hon. W. M. Hushes said the people of the Empire had been pottering about like children or savages in the dark. They should, realise that they had a relation one to another. Our loyalty was only useful if it was constant and continuous, and. in short, a factor. They in Australia were doing little more than scratching about with anaemic hands. \ Sir Edgar Vincent said the Commission marked a definite epoch in Imperial development. It was the first flying squadron attached to the mighty fleet of the Imperial Conference." Its mission, was to visit the territory of all the autonomous Governments, consult authorities on trade and commerce, hear the representations of the Dominions, and lay the facts before the next Imperial Conference. There had been All England elevens and All Australian elevens, but for the first time they now had an Empire Eleven. They were there to co-operate with the Dominions, and they desired to increase in an especial degree inter-Imperial trade.

SPEECH BY SIR RIDER HAGGARD

(Rec. 10.25 a.m.)

MELBOURNE, This Day

F pen king; at tlie Trade Commission's welcome, Sir Rider Haggard said that there was 110 fairer jewel in the Imperial Grown than that set in these seas. The great mass of .the population of the British. Isles, knew little about Australia and other parte of the Empire. Australia only wished that the plethora of the population in Britain could be brought to where there was a plethora of land—that the landless man could be brought to the manless land. Lord Denman entertained the Commissioners at- luncheon.