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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TPLEIC.O. 885
6
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
4653.
the
CERTIFIED COPY of a REPORT of a COMMITTEE of the Honourable the PRIVY COUNCIL, approved by His Excellency the GOVERNOR GENERAL in COUNCIL, on 7th February 1894.
On a report dated 5th February 1894, from the Minister of Trade and Commerce, submitting the following recommendation relating to trade and cable communication between Canada and Australia :—
1. In order to cultivate and increase trade relations between Canada and Australia, an Act was passed (Act 52 Vict. c. 2., 1889, intituled an Act relating to Ocean Steamship Subsidies), authorising the granting of a subsidy of not exceeding the sum of 25,000l. sterling per annum, to assist in establishing an effective fortnightly steamship service between British Columbia and the Australian Colonies and New Zealand.
2. Chapter 2, 52 Vict. was amended by Act 56 Vict., c. 5 (1893), so as to authorise the granting of a subsidy of not exceeding the sum of 25,000l. sterling per annum to assist in establishing an effective monthly or more frequent steamship service between British Columbia and the Australian Colonies and New Zealand.
3. Under this authority a contract was entered into between the Minister of Trade and Commerce on behalf of Her Majesty and James Huddart of the City of London in England, bearing date the first day of May 1893, providing for a monthly or more frequent service between Vancouver, B.C., and Sydney, N.S.W., under the terms of which steamships of the capacity agreed upon were placed en route, the first one sailing from Sydney the 13th May 1893.
4. On the 7th September 1893, an Order in Council was passed authorising the Minister of Trade and Commerce to proceed to Australia and confer with the several Governments, with a view to promoting an extension of trade between Australasia and Canada, and also to confer with the said Governments on the subject of a telegraphic cable to connect Canada with Australia and New Zealand.
5. The Minister of Trade and Commerce on the 7th September 1893, proceeded to Australia and bad conferences and communications with the Governments of the several Colonies on the subjects referred to in the said Order in Council of the 7th September 1893, at which it was suggested, and a decision was arrived at between the Minister of Trade and Commerce and the Premiers of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia, that it was important that a conference should be held at as early a date as would be most convenient, in the City of Ottawa, Canada, for the purpose of discussing the arrangements which might be considered the most desirable for the purpose of carrying out the objects in view.
6. The Minister recommends that the Governments of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, West Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, and Fiji be respect- fully requested to appoint and send one or more delegates to meet at Ottawa on Thursday the 21st day of June, 1894, for the purpose of cousidering the trade relations existing between Canada and their respective countries, and the best means of extending the same and of securing the construction of a direct telegraphic cable between those Colonies and the Dominion of Canada.
The Minister further recommends that the Government of the Cape of Good Hope be invited to take part in the deliberations of the Conference herein referred to.
7. The Minister also recommends that the British Government be requested to take part in their Conference, by sending a delegate, or by such other means as may be con- sidered advisable, inasmuch as the object in view is of an Imperial as well as of a Colonial character.
The Committee, concurring in the above recommendations, advise that your Excellency be moved to transmit a certified copy of this ininute to Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies.
The Committee further advise that your Excellency be also moved to transmit certified copies to the Governors of the various colonies herein referred to, and to the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope.
All of which is respectfully submitted for
your Excellency's
approval.
JOHN J. MCGEE, Clerk to the Privy Council
STR,
No. 2.
THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR CANADA to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received March 17, 1894.)
[Answered by No. 4.]
Victoria Chambers, 17, Victoria Street, London, S.W., March 16, 1894.
I HAVE the bonour to state, for the information of the Marquess of Ripon, that the Hon. Robert Reid, the Minister of Defence of Victoria; the Hon. Sir Thomas McIlwraith, a member of the Queensland Government; the Agents General for the Australian Colonies (with the exception of those for South Australia and Western Australia), New Zealand, the Cape of Good Hope, and Natal, and I desire to wait upon his Lordship in reference to the following subjects :---
1. The importance of the prompt acquisition of Necker Island in connexion with the proposed British cable between Canada and Australasia.
2. To ask the Government to give substantial assistance towards the cost of laying and maintaining the proposed cable.
3. To place before Her Majesty's Government the importance of the new steamship coinmunication between England and Australasia by way of Canada, and to ask for assistance in carrying it into effect.
4. To impress upon Her Majesty's Government the great importance of an early amendment of the Act 36 Vict. c. 22. "An Act to amend the Law with respect to Customs duties in the Australasian Colonies," so as to enable trade arrangements to be made between the Colonies of Australasia and the other Colonies of the Empire.
5. To urge Her Majesty's Government to send a Representative to the Conference between Canada and the Australasian and other Colonies which is to be held at Ottawa on June 21st next.
I venture to hope that his Lordship will be so good as to fix an early date upon which to receive us.
4653.
SIR,
the
No. 3.
I am, &c. (Signed) CHARLES TUPPER.
COLONIAL OFFICE to BOARD OF TRADE and FOREIGN OFFICE. [Answered by Nos. 5 and 11.]
Downing Street, March 22, 1894.
I AM directed by the Marquess of Ripon to acquaint you, for the information of Board of Trade, that the High Commissioner for Canada, with the Agents Earl of Kimberley,
General for the Australasian Colonies (except South and Western Australia), with the Hon. Robert Reid, Minister of Defence for Victoria, and the Hon. Sir T. McIlwraith, a member of the Queensland Government, desire to wait upon his Lordship with the object, amongst other things, of impressing upou Her Majesty's Government the importance of an early amendment of the Act 36 Vict. c. 22. An Act to amend the Law with respect to Čustoms duties in the Australasian Colonies," so as to enable trade arrangements to be made between the Colonies of Australasia and other Colonies of the Empire.
Board of Trade are As the
aware the question of the trade between Canada and Earl of Kimberley is Australasia is now exciting considerable attention, and Canada and some of the Australian Colonies have subsidized a line of steamers trading between the Pacific Coast of Canada and Australia.
Lord Ripon considers it very desirable to foster as far as possible closer relations between the different parts of the empire, and would therefore be disposed to look with favour on any proposals tending to increase the commercial intercourse of the Colonies with each other.
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