47

A.—2

Whereas We have deemed it expedient that a Commission should forthwith issue to inquire into and report upon the natural resources of our Dominion of Canada, our Commonwealth of Australia, our Dominion of New Zealand, our Union of South Africa, and our Colony of Newfoundland ; and, further, to report upon the development of such resources, whether attained or attainable ; upon the facilities which exist or may be created for tbo production, manufacture, and distribution of all articles of commerce in those parts of our Empire ; upon the requirements of each such part and of our United Kingdom in the matter of food ani raw materials and the available sources of such ; upon the trade of each such part of our Empire with the other parts, with our United Kingdom, and with the rest of the world ; upon the extent, if any, » whbh ths mutual trade of the several parts of our Empire has been or is being affected beneficially or otherwise by the laws now in force, other than fiscal laws ; and, generally, to suggest any methods, consistent always with the existing fiscal policy of each part of our Empire, by which the trade of each part with the others and with our United Kingdom may be improved and extended : Now know ye that We, reposing our great trust and confidence in your knowledge and ability, have authorized and appointed, and do by these presents authorize and appoint you, the said James Lyle, Baron Inchcape, Sir Edgar Vincent, Sir Charles John Owens, Sir Henry Eider Haggard, Tom Garnett, William Lorimer, George Eulas Foster, Donald Campbell, Sir Joseph George Ward, Sir David Pieter de Villiers Graaff, and Edgar Rennie Bowring, to be our Commissioners for the purposes of the said inquiry : And for the better effecting the purposes of this our Commission, We do by these presents give and grant unto you, or any five or more of you, full power to call before you such persons as you shall judge likely to afford you any information upon the, subject of this our Commission ; and also to call for, have access to, and examine all such books, documents, registers, and records as may afford you the fullest information on the subject, and to inquire of and concerning the premises by all other lawful ways and means whatsoever : And We do by these presents authorize and empower you, or any five or more of you, to visit and personally inspect such places as you may deem it expedient so to inspect for the more effectual carrying-out of the purposes aforesaid : And We do by these presents will and ordain that this our Commission shall in full force and virtue, and that you, our said Commissioners, or any five or more of you, may from time to time proceed in the execution thereof, and of every matter and thing therein contained, although the same be not continued from time to time by adjournment : And We do further ordain that you, or any five or more of you, have liberty to report your proceedings under this our Commission from time to time if you shall judge it expedient so to do : And our further will and pleasure is that you do, with as little delay as possible, report to Us, under your hands and seals, or under the hands and seals of any five or more of you, your opinion upon the matters herein submitted for your consideration : And for the purpose of aiding you in your inquiries We hereby appoint our trusty and well-beloved William Arthur Robinson, Esquire, Bachelor of Arts, of the Colonial Office, to be Secretary to this our Commission. Given at our Court at Saint James's, this fifteenth day of April, one thousand nine hundred and twelve, in the second year of our reign. By His Majesty's command, L. Harcourt. Migration. Memorandum (B). The Dominions Royal Commission appointed in pursuance of the 20th resolution of the Imperial Conference, 1911, and representing the United Kingdom and the self-governing dominions —viz., the Dominion of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, the Dominion of New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, and Newfoundland —proposes, inter alia, to inquire into the existing arrangements for the migration of population between the United Kingdom and the self-governing dominions, with a view to considering whether it can make any practical suggestions in connection therewith for the consideration of the respective Governments. To assist it in this inquiry, the Commission will be glad to receive answers to the following questions : — 1. What are the objects of your organization with reference to migration from this country ? 2. What methods do you adopt for the promotion of migration to and settlement in the dominions ? 3. Can you give figures of migration to the dominions under the auspices of your organization back to the year 1901, a statement of the cost of such migration per head, and figures to show what proportion of those who migrated have, in your opinion, proved successful ? Can you state what classes of the population were most concerned in such migration ? 4. From what sources is the income of your organization derived, and what is the amount from each source ? 5. To what extent do the persons who migrate themselves contribute to the cost of their migration and settlement ? H 6. Do you consider that the methods now existing, whether public or private, of organizing, encouraging, directing, assisting, and controlling migration and settlement should be expanded, and if so, can you suggest any definite directions in which this could be done ?