IMPERIAL TRADE COMMISSION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8180, 23 July 1912, Page 4

IMPERIAL TRADE COMMISSION

tbqm oup s'pEoiAi; coeeespondent. ■ : ' • LONDON, June 13.

No further explanation has been received in official quarters in London ns to the reasons which have led Sir Joseph Ward to resign hie position as Royal Commissioner on the Imperial Trade Commission. 1 It is understood that the-matter of the representation of New.tZeaiand and oi. South A tricar in the absence >of ' Sir David Graaff is 1 now under oonsideratidn, it- being i deoideijl: that, lif possible', '-all. the. parte -of the: Empire concerned shall be represented from the beginning.' Regarding. the terms of. reference, it was rdcehtly- stated- that these differed materially from the resolution.-of the Imperial Conference, but it appears that the only change is -the omission of ‘’inquiry into the natural resources ox the United Kingdom.'' This was included in the Conference resolution, hut it. has been omitted as involving enormous Inquiry here, which was rendered necessary in view of the work being covered by the census of production now being taken. - - ; i-.' Mr Donald Campbell, the Commissioner appointed by the Commonwealth of Australia, arrived in London this week. Speaking of- the work to be done, Mr Campbell' said: "The terms of reference have _ been left so op an that it is almost impossible to - speak definitely ae to what ore the prospects of he Commission or-its -limitations. X was surprised to hear on my arrival here of Sir J oseph Ward's resignation. 1 saw him on the day I left' Melbourne, and he then expected to be in London at the end of June, so that something of an unexpected character must have happened in the interval. In Australia, of course, that feeling is definitely Protectionist, and judging by the outlook there seems no likelihood of any change of policy in regard to fiscal matters, at any rate, at a very early date. However strong fiscal feeling'may be in Australia there is, of course, a distinct Understanding that the work of the Commission is in no way to interfere with what may be the fiscal policy of the Home Government,' or, indeed,' of any Government of the Empire. That is entirely understood. There can be tio doubt that one result of the Commission will be to focus into one definite centre a quantity of knowledge in regard To trade and production with in the Empire which must be valuable to the Dominions as Well as to the United Kingdom."