EMPIRE TRADE COMMISSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14923, 22 February 1912, Page 3

EMPIRE TRADE COMMISSION.

WILL SIR JOSEPH WARD BE { M • - MEMBER! ' 'i ; , , ■ ,;, . ... •>• ':,';;•■?; ' [rnou OTJH OWN , COBBBfiPONDBNT.] '■ 1 Stokkt, February 14. The Federal Government) is at present coin* , : . sideriug the question of the appointment of its representative on the Royal Commission, on the 'trade of the Empire. "When the Im<perial Conference met in London last year* Mr. Fisher, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, submitted two proposals. Ono'oE tliese was that every effort should! be made' to bring about co-operation in commercial relations and matters of mutual interest;: , and the other was that efforts in favour of British-manufactured goods and British ship*. ;V;£ • ping should be supported as far as praticable. "'''~j, ; Sir Wilfrid Laurier suggested, instead, a Royal Commission should be appointed t&f']; presenting the United Kingdom, ; Australia,, New,> Zealand,' South Africa, and Newfoundland, with a view to investigating and reporting upon the natural resources of? each part of the Empire, and of trado between them. This was agreed to, and the ' number of Commissioners and the salary and expenses to be paid them was, at the suggest' tion of Mr. Asquith, made a matter for private discussion. The Imperial Government is now asking Mr. Fisher .to nominate an Australian representative on the Commission. It is stated that the salary to be paid each' Commissioner is in. the neighbourhood of ,£2OOO, with travelling expenses -on a* liberal scale- .It is believed that it will take* the Commissioners several years to complete* their labours, and possibly?the Commission; .. may become a permanent body. \ It has been suggested :■ that Mr. Fisher himself •% should 'become the Australian representative, but- he* has indicated that he will not l accept' tko . post. It is, however, regarded as certain: that the gentleman to bo nominated will be a. member of the Cabinet, and the name o£ Mr. .W. H. Hughes, Attorney-General, is mentioned among others. A message from ,• •■ Melbourne , states that it is believed Sis Joseph Ward will be the Royal Conuaiß* Bioner for Now Zealand. ■ '': : " : .' v i'- '■■in""- 1...JU1. ".' ■ ',"■-.. ''•'■'' ■'.■ .'•'•-:',;" .f ' ..:■.- ;, ; :;::,;;;:,; i -::'vf-;.:;',;:;:,; ! ;;;j