A.—6a

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is, that the benefits of such legislation should be accorded to subjects of foreign countries upon tho condition that and to the extent to which such foreign countries accord reciprocal treatment to British subjects. The Conference notes in adopting the foregoing resolutions that in certain of the Dominions workmen's compensation falls wholly or partially within Provincial or State, jurisdiction and is in those cases and to that extent outside the control, of the Dominion Government. Signed on behalf of the Committee. W. C. Bridgeman, Chairman. 6th November, 1923.

IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE. The question of the desirability eif establishing some advisory or consultative body on an interImperial basis which could look into and follow up questions of an economic character arising out of the work of the Imperial Economic Conference had been referred to by tho Chairman in his opening speech, when he suggested that it might conveniently be discussed towards the close of the Conference. At the Nineteenth Meeting, held on Tuesday, the 6th November, 1923, Mr. Bruce moved a resolution in the following terms : — That in the opinion, of the, Imperial. Economic Conference— (1.) It is establish an Imperial Economic Committee, comprising representatives of the Governments represented in the Imperial Conference, and responsible to those Governments. (2.) The function of the Committee: should be to consider anel advise upon any matters of an economic or commercial character, not being matters appropriate to be dealt with by the Imperial Shipping Committee, which are referred to it by any of the constituent Governments. Committee needed to carry on Work of Conference. Mr. Bruce referred to the fact that this was the first Imperial Economic Conference which had ever been held. It had done valuable work, and he thought it a great pity if with the rising of the Conference the; whole of its work should come to an end. Definite decisions had been taken by the Conference in certain directions, proposals had been made; by the British Government with regard to additional preferences, and he thought that the Conference were convinced of the necessity in the interests of the whole of the; Empire that a policy of general Imperial development should be; carried into effect,. This could not be: done simply by passing a resolution. It would involve, first, action by the Governments concerned, and, secondly, improvements in methods of trading as between the countries of the Empire. The, institution of the imperial Shipping Committee showed the value of a boely which, owing to its personnel and ediaractor, coulel give: authoritative and impartial opinions upon the kind of questions which will undoubtedly arise in connection with the fostering of interImperial trade. Eximple of Question for Investigation : Position of Australian Beef Industry. That the questions which weiuld arise would not be merely questions of tariffs or preference Was shown by the instance of the Australian beef industry. He: referred to the unsatisfactory position of that inelustry and to the serious effects, from the point of view not only of Australia but of this country, if the industry of raising of beef for export were to be abandoned. It is very eiifficult to open up virgin country in a great continent like Australia unless cattle-raising can lie- undertaken as the, first slop, so enabling the settlers to look round and ascertain whether further elevelopment— e.g., in the direction of sheep-farming,' agriculture, &o. —is likely to lead to good results. It had been publicly announced that His Majesty's Government did not propose to put an import duty on meat. Without expressing any views upon that decision, Mr. Bruce pointed out that there were: many other avenms which would have to be searched to see: whether something coulel not be, done —for example, as regards marketing, unfair competition, &c. in order to improve the: position of this industry. He quoted the instance of the beef industry because it was a case where at first glance one might be inclined to say that the only question was one of tariff and preference-, anel he wished to point out that even in such a case there was plenty of need for investigation. A Prime Ministers' Committee. Mr. Bruce said that he entirely agreed with General Smuts's eibservations at the First Me:eting of the: Conference as to the undesirability of creating new machinery, and he desired to make- it clear that the present proposal was not one for the setting-up of machinery to regulate the relations betwe:e:ti this country and the Dominions. The Committee would be purely advisory. Further, it woulel be appointed by the Prime, Ministers of the Empire, and responsible: to them and not to any United Kingdom Minister or Department. Type of Questions to ba rafsrred to Committee. Mr. Bruce then proceeded to indicate the, type of questions which, in his view, the Committee could usefully concern itself with. He: did not attempt to give an exhaustive list, particularly as experience would show what type of questions would arise. Any question that would affect interImperial trade generally would, prima facie, be a suitable one for consideration by the Committee :