TRADE COMMISSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15250, 13 March 1913, Page 8

TRADE COMMISSION.

BIX MEMBERS ARRIVE. SITTINGS BEGIN TO-BAY. LITTLE EVIDENCE OFFERING. The opening sittings in Auckland of the Trade of Empire Royal Commission will be held in the City Council Chambers this morning. The time previously fixed for the sitting has been altered, and the commission will now open its proceedings at eleven o'clock. Sir Edgar Vjricent (chairman of the commission), Sir Alfred Bateman, the Hon. J. R. Sinclair, and Messrs. Donald Campbell and Joseph Tatlow arrived from Wellington yesterday afternoon. The Hon. G. E. Foster (Minister for Trade and Commerce in the Canadian Government) also arrived in Auckland yesterday to join the commission as the representative of Canada. The commissioners were accompanied by Mr. E. J. Harding (secretary of the commission), Mr. A. H. Bridgeman (of the Colonial Office), Mr. Malcolm Ross (New Zealand officer of the commission), and Mr. Brodie Bass (secretary to the chairman). When the commission meets this morning, it will be welcomed by Mr. S. J. Nathan (president of the Chamber of Commerce), who will be accompanied by Mr. Graves Aickin (vice-president of the chamber), and some members of the council. Other commercial and industrial organisations will probably be represented. Mr. Nathan will explain that as the inquiries made in the three Southern cities have been so exhaustive, the chamber will not submit any evidence, except on matters regarding which the commission desires further information. Mr. Nathan will mention briefly the shortage of labour available for agricultural and manufacturing industries, and suggest the necessity of a judicious immigration policy. A statement regarding preferential freights and some other matters will be made by Mr. George Elliot, who recently retired from the presidency of the chamber. Harbour works and shipping facilities are matters of particular interest to the commission. An account of the growth of the port of Auckland, the development of its trade, and the extent of the harbour works will be fiven this morning by Mr. J. H. Guhson Chairman of the Harbour Board), and Mr. T. H. Hamer (engineer to the board). Arrangements have been made for the commission to make a tour of the harbour this afternoon. IFurther evidence, will be taken tomorrow. (Very few witnesses will be examined here, as business men consider it [ unnecessary to occupy the time of the r commission With statements that would be virtually repetitions of those already made in the Dominion. Some reviews of the agricultural and pastoral industries of the Dominion will be given by Messrs. Edwin Hall and J. E. Makgdl. There may also be some evidence regarding the shortage of labour, and representatives of the Industrial Association may also appear before the commission. The other members. of the commission j Sir Henry Rider Messrs. William Lorimer, Tom Garhett, and the Hon. Or. ■ R. Bowring—will arrive from New Plymouth to-morrow morning. The sittings will probably be concluded tomorrow. If this is possible, the chairman (Sir Edgar Vincent) will leave in the afternoon for Sydney, by the Moldavia. j The other members of the commission will spend the week-end in Auckland, and leave for Rotorua on either Monday or! Tuesday. They will spend a few days viewing the wonders of the thermal region, and return to the city on Saturday, sailing for Sydney on the following Monday, March 24. Mr. Foster will probably visit Wellington before going to, Australia, in order to meet the Prime Minister and other members of "the Government.