A.—4

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5. Admission to Skilled Professions in the New Colonies. That in arranging for the administration of the Transvaal and the Orange Eiver Colony it is desirable that provision should be made that duly qualified members of the learned and skilled professions now admitted or hereafter to be admitted to practise in the self-governing colonies be allowed to practise in the newly acquired territories on condition of reciprocal treatment in the colonies concerned. 6. Coastwise Trade and Shipping Laws. That it is desirable that the attention of the Governments of the colonies and the United Kingdom should be called to the present state of the navigation laws in the Empire and in other countries, and to the advisability of refusing the privileges of coastwise trade, including trade between the Mother-country and its colonies and its possessions, and between one colony or possession and another, to countries in which the corresponding trade is confined to ships of their own nationality ; and also to the laws affecting shipping, with the view of seeing whether any other steps should be taken to promote Imperial trade in British vessels. 7. Subsidies to Shipping. That it is desirable, in view of the great extension of foreign subsidies to shipping, that the position of the mail-services between different parts of the Empire should be reviewed by the respective Governments. In all new contracts provision should be inserted to prevent excessive freight charges, or any preference in favour of foreigners ; and to insure that such of the steamers as may be suitable shall be at the service of His Majesty's Government in war-time as cruisers or transports. 8. Government Contracts. That in all Government contracts, whether in the case of the Colonial or the Imperial Governments, it is desirable that, as far as practicable, the products of the Empire should be preferred to the products of foreign countries. With a view of promoting this result it is suggested that where such contracts cannot be filled in the country in which the supplies are required, the fullest practicable notice of the requirements and of the conditions of tender should be given both in the colonies and in the United Kingdom, and this notice should be communicated through official channels as well as through the Press. 9. Metric System. That it is advisable to adopt the metric system of weights and measures for use within the Empire, and the Prime Ministers urge the Governments represented at this Conference to give consideration to the question of its early adoption. 10. Newspaper Postage. That it is advisable to adopt the principle of cheap postage between the different parts of the British Empire on all newspapers and periodicals published therein, and the Prime Ministers desire to draw the attention of His Majesty's Government to the question of a reduction in the outgoing rate. They consider that each Government shall be allowed to determine the amount to which it may reduce such rate, and the time for such reduction going into effect. 11. Naval Cadetships and Army Commissions. That the Prime Ministers of self-governing colonies suggest that the question of the allotment of the naval and military cadets to the dominions beyond the seas be taken into consideration by the naval and military authorities with a view of increasing the number of commissions to be offered ; that, consistent with insuring suitable candidates, as far as practicable, greater facilities than now obtain should be given to enable young colonists to enter the navy and the army. 12. Preferential Trade. 1. That this Conference recognises that the principle of preferential trade between the United Kingdom and His Majesty's dominions beyond the seas would stimulate and facilitate mutual commercial intercourse, and would, by promoting the development of the resources and industries of the several parts, strengthen the Empire. 2. That this Conference recognises that, in the present circumstances of the colonies, it is not practicable to adopt a general system of free trade as between the Mother-country and the British dominions beyond the seas. 3. That, with a view, however, to promoting the increase of trade within the Empire, it is desirable that those colonies which have not already adopted such a policy should, as far as their circumstances permit, give substantial preferential treatment to the products and manufactures of the United Kingdom. 4. That the Prime Ministers of the colonies respectfully urge on His Majesty's Government the expediency of granting in the United Kingdom preferential treatment to the products and manufactures of the colonies, either by exemption from or reduction of duties now or hereafter imposed. 5. That the Prime Ministers present at the Conference undertake to submit to their respective Governments at the earliest opportunity the principle of the resolution, and to request them to take such measures as may be necessary to give effect to it. Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given; printing (2,875 copies), £ 7 Bh.

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