A.—s.

Mr. W. Runciman, M.P., Financial Secretary to the Treasury. Mr. H. E. Kearley, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade. Sir E. W. Hamilton, G.C.8., X.C.V.0., Permanent Financial Secretary to the Treasury. Mr. H. Llewellyn Smith, C.8., Permanent Secretary to the Board of Trade. Mr. A. Wilson Fox, C.8., Comptroller-General of the Commercial, Statistical, and Labour Department of the Board of Trade. Mr. J. W. Holderness, C.5.1., of the India Office. Mr. G. J. Stanley, C.M.G., of the Board of Trade.

CHAIRMAN : Gentlemen, while we are waiting for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, may I take the opportunity of mentioning the agenda for next week. I understand that we cannot sit again after to-day this week, so that we have to consider what days are available to finish the proceedings of the Conference, as I understand we must, somewhere about the middle of next week. There are two adjourned discussions; one Naval Defence, and the other Naturalization. With regard to Naval Defence, I understand from the First Lord of the Admiralty that he has had a discussion with various members of the Conference, but he does not seem to be quite clear whether they wish to submit to him further proposals before the matter comes before the Conference again. He suggested that we might take this question on Wednesday. With regard to Naturalization, I understood when we adjourned that some members of the Conference wished to put on record their views with regard to this subject, but I do not suppose there is any intention of taking any definite decision on the matter at these meetings. Therefore that subject might be taken if it suited the Home Secretary (which I will ascertain) either on Monday or Tuesday. Sir JOSEPH WARD : It will not take very long so far as I am concerned. CHAIRMAN : I think Sir Wilfrid Laurier wishes to speak upon it. Sir WILFRID LAURIER : I have very few words to say upon it. CHAIRMAN : Then there are certain other questions mentioned on the agenda paper with regard to patents, trade statistics, company law, the metric system and reciprocity of treaties, all of which I think would not take any great length of time, and some of them at any rate fall to be dealt with, under the new procedure of our organisation, by action subsequent to the Conference. I suppose the Conference would wish, on all of these questions, to have an opportunity of recording an opinion. Sir WILFRID LAURIER : None of these questions seem very contentious. CHAIRMAN : None, so far as J know.

Tenth Day. 2 May 1907.

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