IMPERIAL AFFAIRS

Otago Witness, Issue 3030, 10 April 1912, Page 27

IMPERIAL AFFAIRS

TRADE COMMISSION APPOINTED. SIR J. G. WARD INCLUDED. NEW ZEALAND TO BE VISITED. LONDON, April 3. Tn the House of Commons the Colonial Secretary (Mr Harcourt) announced the composition of the Empire Trade Commission as follows: Lord Inchcape (chairman). Sir Edgar Vincent. Sir C. Owens. Sir H. Rider Haggard. Mr T. Garnett (Manchester). Mr W. Lorimer (Glasgow). Hon. G. Foster (Minister of Trade, Canada.). Mr Bowring (Newfoundland). Sir D. P. De V. Graaf (South Africa). Sir J. G. Ward (New Zealand). Mr I). Campbell (Australia). Mr W. A. Robinson (Colonial Office) has been appointed secretary. Mr Harcourt said he hoped that the inquiry would be concluded before the next Imperial Conference. April 4. The Times states that the Opposition is surprised at the composition of the commission. The Opposition considers that the Government has not adopted the understanding that the personnel of the commission should be of the first importance and impartial. The paper complains that statesmen like Lord Grey and Lord Balfour of Burleigh were not asked to become members. Several of those appointed are fiscal extremists or are insufficiently trained in regard to trade and commerce. Lord Inchcape is better known as Sir Jas. Mackay, who was formerly a merchant in Calcutta. He was a member of the Legislative Council of the Viceroy from 1891 till 1893, and a member of the Secretary of States Council from 1904 till 1911. He negotiated the commercial treaty with Ohma in 1902, and has served on many Government inquiries and committees. WELLINGTON, Amil 4. It is understood that the Empire Trade Commission, the personnel of which is announced in to-day's cables, will assemble in I/mdon first, arrange the procedure, and then visit New Zealand and Australia, taking the former first. Sir Joseph Ward, who is a member, will be unable to go to London for the first meeting of the commission. When interviewed by a Post reporter, the Prime Minister (the Hon. T. Mackenzie) said that his Cabinet had asked Sir Joseph ».ard to allow himself to be nominated, and he was pleased to say that Sir Joseph had consented, with the result that New Zealand would have for that special work her most highly-qualified and experienced man on the most important commission that had ever been held in the interests of the Empire. The position carried no salary for any of the representatives, their actual expenses only l>eing paid. Mr Mackenzie said he felt confident that the trade of the Empire must be enormously benefited by the work of the commission, and New Zealand would, he was sure, he proud to have so distinguished and capable a representative on it. " When I decided to accept the position," said Sir Joseph Ward to a Post reporter, " I felt that there was very important work which could lie done by the commission in the general interests of the Umpire. It will not interfere with my position as a member of the House of Representatives. It is not my intention as a result of the anointment to retire from public life in New Zealand. I understand it is very probable that the commission will sit in New Zealand and Australia first." In reply to a question, Sir Joseph said he thought that the work of the commission would take about two years. LAST IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. WHAT HAS BEEN DONE. LONDON, April 4. In the House of Commons Mr Henry Page Croft drew attention to the lack of organisation in regard to Imperial affairs and to the Government's failure to carry out the Imperial Conference proposals, including preference. He said the Colonial Office had failed to respond to the changing conditions of the times. Major Archer-Shee suggested sending trained experts to the colonies and protectorates as trade commissioners. He asked why the Government had not formed the subsidiary conference to deal with the question of a State-owned Atlantic cable. Mr Samuel, in replying, repeated what had been done in the way of cable reductions. He adhered to the statement that an Atlantic cable involved a loss of 50 per cent. He said the House would

be ill-advised to press the Government to incur the expenditure. Mr Harcourt said the Government had taken definite action in regard to 12 subjects raised at the last Imperial Conference, including copyright, patents, accident compensation, naturalisation, treaty revision, the enforcement of court judgments in regard to commercial awards, and wireless communication, while a bill for strengthening the Appeal Court would be reintroduced this session.