THE COLONIST. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1913. THE EMPIRE TRADE COMMISSION.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13655, 21 February 1913, Page 4

THE COLONIST. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1913. THE EMPIRE TRADE COMMISSION.

The Empire Trade Commission; which will arrive in New Zealand on Monday next, marks one of the most important results of the last Imperial Conference, and also, as its chairman. Sir Edgar Vincent, remarked in the course of his reply to the official welcome at Melbourne, a definite epoch in Imperial development. Tho Commonwealth.. rep■resentatives'- at "the Conference urged that efforts should be made to promote the extension of trade in British manufactured goods and the development of British shipping. Sir Wilfrid Laurier said it was a cas© in which information must precede effort, and he proposed i?he appointment of a Royal Commission representing the United Kingdom and the Dominions "with a view of investigating and reporting upon the natural resources of each part of the Empire represented, the development attained and attainable, and the facilities for production, manufacture, and distribution, the trade of each part with tho others and with the outside world, the food and raw material requirements of each, and the sources thereof available, to what/ extent, if any, the trade between each1 of the different parts has''been affected by existing legislation in each, either beneficially or otherwise." Mr., Haroourt. proposed to add "and by what methods, consistent with the existing fiscal policy of each part, tho'trade- of each part with the others may be improved and extended." With this addition the resolution was agreed to,'Mr Asquith promising that the British Government would «pare no pains to fiocuro as its representatives tho ablest men possible. It has well fulfilled this promise, the Homo members of the Commission being highly qualified for ah important and' intricate inquiry such as that upon which they are engaged. Sir Edgai- Vincent^ tho chairman, was for several yeans in the diplomatic service, and is also a well known financier. Another member i s Sir H. Rider Haggard, the well known author, who has served with distinction upon several Royal Commissions. There are several books on agriculture among his works, one- of -which, a book on Rural Denmark, has recently attracted much attention. Messrs. William Lorimer and T. Garnett are engaged in large commercial enterprises, while Sir Alfred Batenian is a general manager of the Imperial Institute- <and chairman of Labour Arbitration Courts and the London Advisory Committee of Labour Exchanges. Ho is a barrister, and has boon treasurer of the International Statistical Institute. He was Controller General for Commerce, Labour and Statistics, and Chairman of th c Advisory Committee on Commercial Intelligence) of the Board of Trado. Mr. Joseph Tatton was formerly general manager of the Midland Great Western Railway, of Ireland. Tho Canadian representative is the Hon. G. E. Foster, Minister of Trade, while Mr. D. Camph<il\ represents Austrajjin. ' The |Niiew Zealand member of tho Commission is tho Hon. J. R. Sinclair, M.L.C., and the Hon. E. 11. , Bowring represents Newfoundland. Sir Richard Solomon, th o South African member, was unable to accompany tho Commission to Australasia. The English evidence- ha^s already boon taken, and after tho inquiry in Now Zealand lias been completed the Commission will return to- Australia, thenco pioceeding to Canada and South Africa. Tho task of the Commission in thia Dominion, and doubtless ,'p +1"5

others also, hag been greatly simplified by tho collection in advance of the information and statistics, required, which is already in the possession of the Commissioners. One of.tho most important subject^ for invest^ga-tlion fe that! of, immigration, and the distribution of immigrants.among the Dominions. The work'of the •'Commission promises to be of the most beneficial nature to tho Dominions, but there is a considerable section of opinion that it was a mistake to exclude fiscal questions from the ■ scope of the inquiry, since they are indissolubly connected with the extension of intor-Imperial trade. The Commonwealth Minister of 'Customs is desirous that the question of reciprocal relations between Australia and Canada should be discussed by the Commission.' Mr. Tudor holds, that the industrial conditions of New Zealand and Canada are nearly the same as in Australia, and the question of trade relations with those countries is worthy of discussion. It may be found, he says, that there are things one may produce and the other does not, and an agreement would be mutually beneficial. It would seem, however, that the limitations imposed upon the Commission in trespeet to tariffs would largely exclude, useful discussion of reciprocal relations between the Dominions.

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Mass : will be celebrated at Wakeiield arid Waimea West on Sunday morning next. -4':

A sharp double shock of earthquake wag felt at Napier at 1.50 a.m. yesterday.

Tlio Hereford bullock, the property of Mr. G. F. Moore, of Kai Iwi, which wa,s. purchased by Mr. F. W. Fairey, of Nelson, at the Solway (Masterton) fat stock: fair will be shipped to Sydney to compete at the Royal Show. The "Age" says the bullock is a remarkably fine specimen of the breed.

The question of the erection of public swimming : baths in Nelson is to be discussed at a meeting io be held in the Chamber of Commerce rooms this evening. ' ■

A somewhat remarkable accident is recorded at Dunedin. A motor car, which was left temporarily unattended, started off down a hill, and'finally dashed into another street, whore it crossed .the footpath and partially wrecked tho side of a house. The outer weatherboards for a considerable distance were stripped off. The car was also damaged and had to be left in the street.

On the application of Mr. Gully;, on the 15th inst., his Honour Mr. Justice Chapman, granted letters of -administration of thie estate, effects, and credits of the late Mrs. Pamela Jane Euro, of Nelson, to Robert WJlliam Stiles., one of the next of kin.

A South Canterbury farmer, who had a threshing mill at work oh his tarm this week, with the men working by' ihe hoxir. was so disgusted with the' result- that he turned the mill off his . place (says the "Timaru Herald"). The cost of threshing done up to the time of dismissal worked out at a fraction over sixpence per bushel, and it was, he 6aid, impossible to stand that.

The "Waikato. Argus" states that the manufacture of tobacco is. attaining tiiie dimensions' of an important industry, in. Hamilton. The industry has been carried on successfully for some time, and the demand for the tobacco has grown to such an extent that a new company fe being floated to extend the business.

Dont' be a minute after nine to-mor-irow morning. Our sale starts then, and we'll, sell glorious silk ribbons— plain colour*, striped and floral designs, and the new,-pique edges, 3 to 18 inches wide. All-: 6d yard.—Auckland Clothing and Drapery Company.*

At Northampton the other day, Mr. William Bernard Rhodes Moorhouse was summoned for driving a motor-car •withqut lights at 12.55 on the morning of Christmas Day, and also for refusing to stop at the call of a oolice officer. The defendant gave evidence to the effect that he did not hear tho constable call, and that he did not know the lights had gone- out, there being bright moonlight. There were eighteen previous convictions, and the Bench inflicted a fine of five pounds, and suspended Mr Moorhouse's license for six months.

Be there ..•-..when the doors open! ! Sharp at nine to-morrow morning our sale starts. Men's smart neglige shirts, Zealandia make, for 2s 3d each.—Auckland Clothing and Drapery Company.*.

A "pet parrot played an important part in a tragedy m a suburb of Brussels. An old woman named Koettingen, reputed to be a miser, was strangled by a burglar who entered her lodgings for the purpose of robbing her. While the assa&sin was searching for ■hervhoard of money and jewels Mmo. Koettingen's pet parrot uttered several words which it had learned from its mistress. Thinking that 'he hoard a human voice the assassin fled, leaving a large sum of money untouched.

At this time of tlio yenr great efforts are being made by some business people to induce trade, and clearing sales, stock-taking sales, etc., are announced. The "management of Lock's big furniture emporium have no occasion to resort to any clearing sales —bogies or otherwise. Nor do they, need any. catchpenny methods to induce trade. This firm keeps:busy.-practically aM tho year round. Lock's huge.stock, which is all marked in plain figures, is at tho dis-. posal of their clients, and splendid value is ail ways given. It will be-of special interest to raspberry and hop pickers, <is well as to tho general "public, to know that during tho next six weeks a discount of ten per cent will be allowed off the low-marked prices on §oft goods, and five po.r cent oft' all cabinet work. Thef© sub-strintial concessions will be for cash only—and wo recommend buyers not to misg visiting Lock's empor"iv $«cu>re the advantages offered.'

The lioness lent t0..th0.. (Wellington Zoo by Messrs. Wirth Bros, for a period of twelve months has. given birth to twin cubs. The iiowess is under offer to the authorities for £100, and. a movement is. on f^ot to purchase her in order than shemay not be separated from her spouse "King Dick."

The heavy downpour of rain which comnienced at about 10 o'clock last evening will prove most acceptable to this neighbourhood. The farmers have been threatened with a serious water famine, and some have been compelled to cart water to their stock. The city water supply will also benefit considerably, as the feeders to the reservoir had shrunk to a very low state. The downpour, which eontiaiuedj all night, was of sufficient heaviness to relieve all alarm from lack of water for some time to come.

Some ladies who attended a school picnic at Moturoa on.' Saturday had an unpleasant experience (the "Taranaki News" relates). While in bathing, their underclothing was appropriated by an elderly man, who is supposed to lie- of weak intellect. He secured theii garments and, retiring into the lupins, donned them under his own clothes. Ho was scon from the breakwater by an officer of one of the steamers,, and tli-e police were communicated' with The man was caught and the garments were returned, but owing to his mental .state no proceedings will be taken.

What might have been a serious accident was "prevented by a plucky act of a young lady named Miss E. H. Murray, at Morrinsville, one afternoon recently (statfes the "Auckland "derakl")., A'i motor! fiar,\ travtelljing at a fair speed, was coming down Studholm street, and when opposite Messrs JVC. R. Watt's premises^a Native child about four years of age ran in front of the; oar. The driver applied tho brakes,, but the child would have undoubtedly been run over bad not Miss Murray sprang forward and seized it, the car passing within six inches of them. Miss Murray Buffered slightly from shock.

Sharp at nine to-morrow mornmg our salo commences. You'll want to be there on the stroke if you want any of those beautiful spangled nets, 42 inches wide, at 3d yard.—Auckland Clothing and Drapery Company.*

Some 10,302 acres of the Sherenden Estate, Hawke's Bay, will be placed on the market next week for selection. Applicants must apply personally before the Land Board at Napier on the 25th met. . ■;..

A Dutch giant, named Egan Cannon, has arrived in Australia on exhibition." H©_weighs fifty-five stone, and a special cabin had to befitted up on the 11.M.5. Medina.

The new High School building at Patea cost £3,000, independent of the land, and the Marton one cost £5,000 including the land.

Remember the time! 9 o'clock tomorrow morning our sale starte. Men's Pegatrioid rain coats, the lightest and best waterproof coat out, for 21s each. Sold elsewhere at 50s—Auckland Clothing and Drapery Company.*

A hat in two colours f«r men i» being offered for sale in Paris shops. It is of felt, of tho Hamburg type, but with rather larger brims. Som© are black and white, others black and green, grey and brown, and others of all possible variations of the colour gamut, the top portion of the hat being in one colour, and the lower portion of the brim in another. M. Andre de Fouquiere, the acknowledged Beau Brummel of Paris, being asked by the inventor of the new hat for" his opinion on it, cabled from New York the one world "delicious."

Push your -way in when the doors open! At nine to-morrow morning our big sale starts. Beautiful autumn and .winter., dress tweeds and pure wool Venetian cloths, 44 inches wide-, for Is and ]<s 6d yard.—Auckland Clothing and Draper 3' Company.*

Virgil wrote "Cr'ede Experto."—"Believe one who has tried it." If bo had only known it he might have been advising his readers to "Try Martell's Brandy."