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" the means of communication, and those of transport within the Empire, " it is desirable that some means should be devised for systematic consulta- " tion between the members of various parts of the Empire for the purpose " of considering co-operative projects for the general purpose of fostering " the industrial forces of the Empire, so as to promote its growth and unity." These ends have to be considered by expert business men, and afterwards we shall come in to find the means. Mr. DEAKIN : That is a most distinct advance. It may not come immediately to anything because it is only a general provision, but I quite feel that it is not fair to press the President of the Board of Trade for anything expressed in pounds, shillings, and pence until definite schemes are propounded. Mr. LLOYD GEORGE : You have no schemes. Schemes would have to he considered very carefully. So far as lam concerned, 1 have been seeing a good many shipowners, and I have realised what great practical difficulties there are which must be overcome, and you could not formulate a scheme in the course of the few days that are at our disposal now. It would take a considerable time for consultation with all classes of people interested in our oversea trade. Mr. DEAKIN : I entirely agree. Be sure that there will be no sparsity of projects; we are full of them. People are continually making proposals lor improvement of communications, and one thing and another. Mr. LLOYD GEORGE : One thing you have to do is to persuade Australia to make a harbour where ships of a certain size can go in. Your depth of water is only 28 feet draught. These huge ships will not enter. That is one point a large shipowner has put to me, and I said, " That is not for us; it is for Australia." Mr. DEAKIN : You are quite right, It is for us. Speaking from memory he is a little out of date. They are blasting Port Phillip, and have been for the last 12 months, rocks to a depth of 30 feet—l think 32 to J5 feet in the entrance to Melbourne. In Sydney Harbour, as I understand, the entrance is deep enough already. Mr. LLOYD GEORGE : But you cannot get alongside with a ship over 28 feet. CHAIRMAN : We need not have particulars. Mr. LLOYD GEORGE : I only give it as an illustration. Mr. DEAKIN : I have no possible objection to any detailed criticism of any possibilities, except to say that I did not put any proposal forward of this vague character. Rut my suggestions are now being met in the light I think they ought to have been met at first. It is excellent to provide for expert consultation periodically. The only thing is, cannot we go further before we part? Ido not know whether a question of this sort will come before the new secretariat or whatever it is, or go to the Board of Trade. Are matters of practical business, propositions which are made from either one part or the other of the Empire, to go through the secretariat or to the Board of Trade or to whom? CHAIRMAN : May I say that I undertook at the beginning of this Conference to endeavour to organise a secretariat? I have not had time since the Conference met, and I think you must really leave me some scope.

Fourteenth Day. !l May I!«I7.

Imperial Si i;t\\ on FoUKION Imports. (Mr. Lloyd (ioorge.)

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