A.—7.

The committee also noted that the Imperial Shipping Committee is at present engaged upon an investigation into the position of British shipping in Middle and Far Eastern waters, having regard to the increased competition of foreign flags. The committee was informed that additional statistics relating to shipping are now being compiled in the United Kingdom, and each of the Governments represented on the committee expressed willingness in principle to arrange for the provision of similar statistics in respect of their import and export trade. The Conference approved the report of the committee, and on the recommendation of the committee, adopted the following resolution with regard to the work of the Imperial Shipping Committee:— "(1) The Conference expresses to Sir Halford Mackinder, Chairman of the Imperial Shipping Committee, and to the members and staff of the committee, its warm thanks for the very valuable work which the committee has done in the interests of the Governments and the commercial communities of the British Commonwealth of Nations: "(2) The Conference notes that the committee has established itself as a very useful instrument for co-operative examination of the shipping problems of the British Commonwealth, with a tradition of unanimity now extending over seventeen years: "(3) The Conference is of opinion— "(a) That it is desirable that the committee should be continued on the present basis, following the general lines proposed by the Imperial Committee on Economic Consultation and Co-operation in 1933, and deriving authority from, and being responsible to, the Governments represented at the Imperial Conference. The Conference would welcome the addition of a representative of Burma to the committee; "(b) That a sum of £2,000 per annum should continue to be provided for the work of the committee in respect of each year up to and including the year ending 31st March, 1943, and that the cost should be borne by the Governments concerned on the existing basis as recommended by the Imperial Committee on Economic Consultation and Co-operation in 1933, subject to any apportionment of India's present contribution which may be agreed on between India and Burma in the event of Burma desiring representation on the committee." XVII. COMMITTEE ON CERTAIN ECONOMIC QUESTIONS. Questions relating to the work of the Imperial Economic Committee and a proposal for the establishment of an Empire Agricultural Council were referred to a committee on economic questions under the chairmanship of the Hon. N. C. Havenga, M.P., Minister of Finance, Union of South Africa. The following is a summary of the committee's report: — (i) Questions relating to the Work of the Imperial Economic Committee. The committee considered the progress report, 1933-36, of the Imperial Economic Committee. General appreciation of the work of the Imperial Economic Committee was expressed by all delegations, and the committee recommended that it should continue on the existing basis. The committee also recommended that if Burma should wish to participate in the future work of the Imperial Economic Committee as a separate country, with one representative, arrangements to this end should be made. The cost of the Imperial Economic Committee is met from a fund to which the participating Governments contribute on the scale recommended by the Imperial Committee on Economic Consultation and Co-operation, 1933. This fund, since Ist October, 1933, has been £20,000 a year. The Imperial Economic Committee, in a financial statement and forecast for the period Ist April, 1938,

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