STRONGER CONSULAR SERVICE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13855, 19 March 1907, Page 6

STRONGER CONSULAR SERVICE.

STATEMENT BY MR LLOYDGEORGE.

The President of (ho Board of Trade, who was the principal guest at the annual banquet of tho Walsall Chamber of Commerce recently, made an important statement in -reference to the future of the consular service. Mr Lloyd-George said that- (ho question of trade should be ncnpolitieal. He thought tho Government conlil do n great deal to assist the trade and commerce of the country, and strengthen tho Intelligence Department by undertaking on behalf of this country what probably the Gerniii.n irado must be doing for itself by reason of its .superior organisation. Germany was our greatest rival, and it was, of course, important to know what Germany was doing. Ho was having an inquiry made, and he thought the result- would be exceedingly interesting when it came to be published. They were also having special investigations made inlo the industries of other foreign countries. He thought that I bey would find that in tho future tho Consular service would bo improved from the point of view of commercial consideration and investigation. In future the Consuls would have lo pass through the Intelligence Department of the IScard of Trade, where they had information not merely from all tho countries of the. world, but- whore they were in close touch with the Chambers of Commerce, and where they got to know by inquiries what kind of information the traders wanted to know about and what was passing abroad. It was also intended t-o strengthen the Consular service. There had been complaints that our Consular reports, even where they were good, were belated. They had made arrangements through Hie Foreign Office, and instructions had been issued I hat in iuture all information which which it was important for a particular trade of the country lo see at once should lie promptly telegraphed or rent to the Board of 'Trade and they would send it along to the Chambers of Commerce and .o those who were subscribers lo the Board of Trade Journal. This would also bo scut to the Consuls abroad, and be thought it would prove of very great value. Of course this would be treated a.s confidential information. Mr Lloyd-George wont on to refer to the special investigation into foreign industrial conditions. Speaking of the work of the second branch of the Intelligence Department, be said that they were going to have a census of the production of the industries of Britain. This would be the (irsi. time this had been attempted. They had it in special trades, such as the iron I and steel trade, the shipbuilding, and io a certain extent, the textile branches; still ' they had not got a national balance sheet

to show whore they were. What they wanted were tho facts, without partisanship,, as to their national position, so that they could see whether they were going backward or forward. Lot them have ti census showing' where they were to-day. If Ihcy worn going backward, let the country consider what could be done. After all, the resources of the country were not exhausted. 'The country had got the brain powers and tho courage to face emergencies, but let them know what the emergency was. For his part ho did not care what the result miirht be. He was going to get the facts, whether they wero against his theory or not. and if tho facts smashed his theory of things, the sooner it was smashed tho batter. The president concluded by remarking that the next tiling he thought ihc Government- could do was to remove certain restrictions which prejudicially affected British industries. He referred specially to tho patent system, lie would give foreigners patents in tins country, but ho would compel them to war!; llicm hero. Ho hoped to introduce a bill' next session. Finally, he hoped in the near future to fake counsel with the railway companies and traders with a view lo improving the transport system. /