530
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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Although the modifications already made by the Board of Trade in the load-line tables and rules have not hitherto been of such a kind as to necessitate the appointment of an advisory committee, there are considerations which dispose the Board of Trade to accept the suggestion of Mr. Chamberlain that experts nominated by the Colonial Governments should be placed upon any committee appointed to consider, and advise the Board of Trade upon, proposed modifications in future.
Colonial vessels trade to the United Kingdom, and on sailing from our home ports are required to be marked with a load-line. The load-line tables already therefore affect Colonial interests.
On the other hand, shipowners in the United Kingdom carry on a much larger trade with the Colonies, and on leaving Colonial ports, will be affected by recent and prospective Colonial load-line legislation. Already, as Mr. Chamberlain is aware, difficulties have arisen from divergencies between the legislation in several Australian Colonies and that of the United Kingdom upon the important question of the proper authority for approving modifications in the tables. It may easily happen that, on the one hand, the interests of shipowners in the United Kingdom may be injuriously affected by the want of uniformity in the tables, while on the other hand Her Majesty's subjects in the Colonies, as owners of British ships, have a claim to be heard as parties interested in the regulation of so important a matter as the load-line of British ships sailing from all parts of the Empire. It is therefore obvious that any step which may tend to promote equality of treatment among British shipowners throughout the Empire, and to assimilate, in accordance with the spirit and policy of the Imperial Merchant Shipping Act, the conditions under which the shipping trade of the Empire is carried on, must necessarily be attended with advantage to all concerned.
In this point of view, I am to express the concurrence of the Board of Trade in the -proposition of Mr. Chamberlain upon the subject of associating experts nominated by groups of the Colonies with any Committee appointed by the Board of Trade to consider and advise upon proposed modifications in the load-line tables.
And, further, the Board of Trade are disposed to think that it might be of advantage from the same point of view if they were able to consult on the spot, and without delay, persons capable of explaining the views of Colonial Governments on other matters from time to time affecting the administration of the Merchant Shipping Act generally.
I have, &c.
APPENDIX III.
WALTER J. HOWELL.
Representation of Self-governing Colonies at Paris Exhibition
SIR,
(Confidential.)
in 1900.
COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE.
Downing Street, May 14, 1897. In reply to your letter of 1st instant, relative to the formation of a Royal Commission to organise and control the British section at the Paris Exhibition, 1900, I am directed by the Secretary of State to acquaint you, for the information of the Marquess of Salisbury, that Mr. Chamberlain would suggest that this Department should be represented on the proposed Commission by either the Earl of Selborne or Mr. Edward Wingfield, C.B., but owing to the illness of the latter gentleman the selection cannot be made for a few days, and by Sir John Bramston, K.C.M.G., C.B.; and that the gentlemen whose names are given below should be asked to represent Colonial interests generally (as distinct from the interests of self-governing Colonies):
Sir Robert George Wyndham Herbert, G.C.B.
Sir Henry Ernest Gascoyne Bulwer, G.C.M.G.
Sir Cecil Clementi Smith, G.O.M.G.
Sir Montague Frederick Ommanney, K.C.M.G. Mr. William Keswick,
Mr. Nevile Lubbock.
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2. As regards the Colonies possessing responsible government, Mr. Chamberlain would suggest that, as some of the Agents-General whose names are given in the accompanying list are known to be only holding their appointments temporarily, and as the services of others may not be available in 1900, the wishes of the Colonial Governments as to their representation on the Commission might with advantage be ascertained before any final steps are taken in the matter. This might be done either by telegraph or by communication with the Premiers on their arrival in this country
next month.
CANADA :-
Enclosure.
AGENTS GENERAL.
I am, &c.
JOHN BRAMSTON.
The Honourable Sir Donald Alexander Smith, G.C.M.G. (High Commissioner
for the Dominion of Canada), 17, Victoria Street, S.W. Joseph Grose Colmer, Esq., C.M.G. (Secretary).
NEW SOUTH WALES :-
The Honourable Sir Saul Samuel, K.C.M.G., C.B. (Agent-General), 9, Victoria
Street, S.W.
Samuel Yardley, Esq., C.M.G. (Secretary),
VICTORIA :-
Lieutenant-General the Honourable Sir Andrew Clarke, R.E., G.C.M.G., C.B.,
C.I.E. (Agent-General), 15, Victoria Street, S.W.
S. B. H. Rodgerson, Esq. (Acting Secretary).
SOUTH AUSTRALIA :—
The Honourable Thomas Playford (Agent-General), 1, Crosby Square, E.C. T. F. Wicksteed, Esq. (Assistant Agent-General and Emigration Agent).
QUEENSLAND :-
General Sir Henry Wylie Norman, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., C.I.E. (Agent-General),
1, Victoria Street, S.W.
Charles Shortt Dicken, Esq., C.M.G. (Secretary).
TASMANIA :—
The Honourable Sir Westby Brook Percival, K.C.M.G. (Agent-General), 5, Victoria
Street, S.W.
NEW ZEALAND :—
The Honourable William Pember Reeves (Agent-General), 13, Victoria Street,
S.W.
Walter Kennaway, Esq., C.M.G. (Secretary).
WESTERN AUSTRALIA :——
The Honourable Sir Malcolm Fraser, K.C.M.G. (Agent-General), 15, Victoria
Street, S.W.
Reginald Charles Hare, Esq. (Secretary).
CAPE:-
The Honourable Sir David Tennant, K.C.M.G. (Agent-General), 112, Victoria
Street, S.W.
Spencer Brydges Todd, Esq., C.M.G. (Secretary).
W. C. Burnet, Esq. (Emigration Agent).
NATAL:-
Walter Peace, Esq., C.M.G. (Agent-General), 64, Victoria Street, S.W. Robert Russell, Esq. (Secretary).
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