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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 cr 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." The representatives of the colonies are prepared to recommend to their respective Parliaments preferential treatment of British goods on the following lines : — Canada. —The existing preference of 33J per cent., and an additional preference on lists of selected articles— (a) by further reducing the duties in favour of the United Kingdom; (b) by raising the duties against foreign imports ; (c) by imposing duties on certain foreign imports now on the free list. Australia. —Preferential treatment not yet defined as to nature or extent. New Zealand. —A general preference by 10 per cent, all-round reduction of the present duty on British-manufactured goods, or an equivalent in respect of lists of selected articles on the lines proposed by Canada —namely, (a) by further reducing the duties in favour of the United Kingdom ; (b) by raising the duties against foreign imports; (c) by imposing duties on certain foreign imports now on the free list. The Cape and Natal. —A preference of 25 per cent, or its equivalent on dutiable goods other than specially rated articles, to be given by increasing the duties on foreign imports. Government contracts. Resolution, —" 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 to 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 the United Kingdom, and that this notice should be communicated through official channels as well as through the Press." , Shipping subsidies. Resolution, — " That it is desirable that, in view of the great extension of foreign subsidies to shipping, the position of the mail-services between different parts of the Empire should be reviewed by the respective Governments. In all new contracts provisions 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." Coasting trade. Resolution, — " 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 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 a view of seeing whether any other steps should betaken to promote Imperial trade in British vessels." Metric system. Resolution, —" 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." Mutual protection of patents. Resolution, —"That it would tend to the encouragement of inventions if some system for the mutual protection of patents in the various parts of the Empire could be devised. That the Secretary of State be asked to enter into communication with the several Governments in the first instance and invite their suggestions to this end." Purchase of cables. Resolution, —" That it is desirable that in future agreements as to cable communications a clause should, wherever practicable, be inserted reserving to the Government or Governments concerned the right of purchasing on equitable terms and after due notice all or any of the cables to which the agreements relate." Postage on newspapers and periodicals. Resolution, —" 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." Professional employment in Transvaal and Orange River Colony. Resolution, — "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 and hereafter to be admitted to practice in the self-governing colonies be allowed to practice within the newly acquired territories, on condition of reciprocal treatment in the colonies concerned."