CO885-(16-18) — Page 612

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1

INTRODUCTION.

Complaints have been received at the Colonial Office for a number of years with regard to the conduct of certain "Shipping Conferences" which are alleged to be combinations detrimental to trade.

The particular conference which has been most prominently before the public is that known as the "South African Ring.' Several organisations have been formed to combat it, and its operations are referred to in the evidence in the Merchandise Marks Bluebook (see page 180 et seq.) and the Bluebook B.C. 346/97. on the trade of the British Empire and foreign com- petition [C. 8449] 1897 (pages 236 and 241), a fact which led to correspondence in the public press. The South Africa Mercantile Association, one of the bodies above referred to, proposed in November 1897 to appoint a deputation to wait upon the Secretary of State to ask for a Select Committee on the question, but were informed that the matter was rather for the Board of Trade than for this Office.

The similar Conference of lines running to Chinese and Indo-Chinese waters had also attracted attention. The question came up in connection with the Trade Blue Book (see page 11), but the C. 449/97. most interesting evidence was strictly confidential.

The Governor of the Straits Settlements in 1899 wrote very strongly concerning the methods of the local Conference, and in considering this despatch it was noted that on the 8th of June in that year Mr. Ritchie had received a deputation representing a number of Chambers of Commerce, the iron trade, and several trade unions, on this matter, and had undertaken to do everything possible to obtain and publish information. It was, therefore, decided to consult the Board of Trade as to a circular to selected Colonies.

The Board of Trade agreed, and the circular (Appendix A) was sent to those Colonies from which valuable information might be expected (sce list, Appendix B.).

All have now replied except Cape Colony and Tasmania.

The evidence is incomplete for several reasons. No information has been obtained from India or from consuls in foreign ports. The facts about India may very probably be in the possession of the India Office, as agitation has taken place both in Calcutta and London in connection with alleged "conferences." It is much to be desired that information should be obtained from Shanghai and from South American ports.

The evidence now obtained is analysed under heads corresponding to those of the circular (i., ii., iii., iv., v.), and is arranged in groups of Colonies as follows:-

West Africa Sierra Leone, Gold Coast, Lagos, and Southern Nigeria.

South Africa-Cape Colony and Natal.