49

A.—2.

Note (&) — Alien Immigration Legislation —was fully considered. The general view was that this subject was not covered by the terms of reference. There was a difference of opinion as to whether it should or should not be considered by the Commission in view of the resolution of the Imperial Conference, 1911, remitting it to the Commission. It was finally agreed that the Chairman should discuss the matter with the Secretary of State for the Colonies. The Commission adjourned at 5.15 till Monday, the 17th June. , 17th June, 1912. Inchoape, Chairman. Dominions Royal Commission. —Minutes of Second Meeting (16th June, 1912). The Commission met at 3 p.m. on the 16th June, Lord Inchcape in the chair. There were present the representatives of the United Kingdom (with the exception of Mr. Garnett, who was unavoidably absent on public business), the Dominion of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, the Union of South Africa, and Newfoundland, together with the secretarial staff. The minutes of the first meeting were read and approved. The Chairman reported the result of his interview with the Secretary of State for the Colonies on the question of alien-immigration legislation. His Lordship stated that a telegram had been sent to the oversea dominions indicating that the members of the Commission considered it undesirable for the Commission to deal with the matter, and inviting their views. The Chairman stated that the sub-committee appointed at the first meeting to draft memoranda of questions for circulation had framed a memorandum of questions as to trade, but desired more time to consider a memorandum of questions as to migration. The memoranda as to trade was approved, after discussion by the Commission, in the form appended to these minutes (A). The letter from the Royal Colonial Institute forwarding a memorial and resolutions from their Empire Trade and Industry Committee for the consideration of the Commission was considered, and the Secretary was instructed to inform the Institute that an opportunity would be given for oral evidence as to it when the Commission assembles in October, and that memoranda of questions framed by the Commission would be forwarded in due course. The Commission further considered the question of the statistical information to be collected for the purposes of its inquiry, and decided that it should be remitted to a sub-committee consisting of the Chairman, Sir Edgar Vincent, Sir Rider Haggard, Mr. Campbell, and Sir Richard Solomon, the secretarial staff to prepare materials for this committee to consider at its meetings in July. The Commission adjourned at 4.15 p.m. till Friday, the 21st June, at 3 p.m. Inchoape.

(A) Memorandum. Part of the task intrusted to the Dominions Royal Commission is to make the widest possible inquiry into the natural resources of the self-governing dominions, their present and possible development, and into the facilities for the production, manufacture, and distribution of all articles of commerce therein ; into the food and raw-material requirements of those dominions and the United Kingdom, and the available sources of supply thereof; into the trade of the self-governing dominions and the United Kingdom, each part with the others and with the rest of the world : with the object of showing the natural resources and trade of the Empire, and of offering suggestions for the development of those resources and the extension of that trade. The self-governing dominions are the Dominion of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, the Dominion of New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, and Newfoundland. The Commission is precluded by its terms of reference from inquiring into or receiving evidence as to the effects of Customs or tariff laws. Subject to this limitation, the Commission desires to receive— (1.) Suggestions as to any methods by which the trade above mentioned could be improved and extended ; and, as contributory thereto, (2.) Particulars of any legislation and of any administrative arrangement —-(a) in the United Kingdom, (b) in any self-governing dominion —which is considered detrimental to the trade above mentioned, with a statement of the reasons therefor and suggestions for amendment, if any; (3.) Particulars as to any concrete instances in which the trade above mentioned has suffered in recent years, the reasons and suggested remedies. It is requested that written information may be sent, if possible, before the 31st August to the Secretary, Dominions' Royal Commission, ScotlandjHouse, Victoria Embankment, London'S.W. Due notice will be given when the Commission will be ready to receive oral evidence, and witnesses will be invited to attend.

Dominions Royal Commission. —Minutes of Third Meeting (20th June, 1912). The Commission met at 3 p.m. on the 20th June, Lord Inchcape in the chair. There were present the representatives of the United Kingdom, the Dominion of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, the Union of South Africa, and Newfoundland, together with the secretarial staff.

7—A. 2.