§ Sir ALBERT SPICERasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any steps have been taken and, if so, what, to give effect to the resolution of the Imperial Conference, 1911, in regard to commercial relations within the Empire as to the desirability of the appointment of a Royal Commission representing the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Newfoundland, with a view of investigating and reporting upon the natural resources of each part of the Empire represented at this Conference, the development attained and attainable, and the facilities for production, manufacture, and distribution, the trade of each part with the others and the outside world, the food and raw material requirements of each, and the sources thereof available, and to what extent, if any, the trade between each of the different parts has been affected by existing legislation in each, either beneficially or otherwise, and by what methods, consistent with the existing policy of each part, the trade of each part with the others may be improved and extended?
§ Mr. CROFTasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Commission to inquire into the trade of the Empire has yet been appointed; and, if so, whether he can state the names of the members of that Commission?
Mr. HARCOURTI am still awaiting the suggestion of a name from one of the Dominions. When that is received I shall make the necessary submission to the King and on His Majesty's approval the names of the eleven Commissioners will be published at once. My answer serves also as a reply to the question by the hon. Member for Christchurch.