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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

11C.0.885/25

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

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90

2. As I informed you in my despatch No. 91, of the 10th March, 1917,* I caused copies of Mr. Bonar Law's circular despatch to be communicated to the Jamaica Agricultural Society and to the Royal Jamaica Society of Agriculture and Com- merce and Merchants' Exchange, with an intimation that I should be glad to receive the views of those societies with respect to any "special circumstances affecting the interest" of the Colony for which it is desirable to secure consideration at the forth- coming conference of representatives of the United Kingdom and India, and I transmit herewith a copy of a report on the subject made by a special committee of the Board of Management of the Jamaica Agricultural Society acting in co-opera- tion with a committee of the Merchants' Exchange.

3. I also laid before the Legislative Council. in messages of which I enclose copies, a copy of the circular despatch of the 25th September, together with a copy of the report of the Board of Management of the Jamaica Agricultural Society in co-operation with a committee of the Merchants' Exchange, and invited an expression of their views on the matter, and I have the honour now to submit to you a copy of the resolution which was passed by the Legislative Council on the 4th instant in which that body endorses the report of the special committee.

I have, &c.,

1.

Enclosure 1 in No. 25.

W. H. MANNING,

Governor.

WHEREAS this committee have been requested to advise on certain questions as to the future commercial and industrial policy of the United Kingdom raised by the conclusion of the Conference of the Allies, of which the first is:

What industries are essential to the future safety of the nation, and what steps

should be taken to maintain and establish them?

This Committee declare that, in their opinion, the industries essential to the safety of the nation in which Jamaica is specially concerned are those of the supply of food, dye stuffs, and tobacco, and that the leading products coming under this head are fruit (bananas, citrus fruits, and coco-nuts), sugar, coffee, cocoa, dye-wood extracts, tobacco, and manufactures thereof.

2. That the export of citrus 1 uits would be materially stimulated by a prefer- ence being secured in shipments to the United Kingdom, British Possessions, Colonies, and Allied countries which do or may impose import duties on such fruits.

3. That an increasing industry may develop in the manufacture of copra (dried coco-nut meat), and that care should be taken that admission of coconuts and of this product on most favoured nation terms to Allied countries is made secure.

4. That preferential tariff treatment would be essential to, and would probably induce, very considerable development of the sugar industry, but that also counter- vailing duties should be arranged as a protection against bounties if and when these are again given by foreign countries.

5. That the production of coffee would be stimulated if preferential treatment is generally given to British Possessions and Colonies and Jamaica is admitted to

share therein.

That the sale of coffee, cocoa, and other products to French markets has been often unduly hampered by the tariff arrangements of that country, which demanded a heavy surtax when coffee was shipped by a steamer which called at any European port before reaching France; and that it would be a material assistance to trade with that country if this regulation could be altered.

6. That this committee desire to direct attention to the anomalous position occupied by Jamaica produce in regard to French Customs duties, whereby Jamaica products come under the maximum tariff.

They appeal to His Excellency the Governor to bespeak the attention of the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the matter, with a view to putting Jamaica produce on the most favourable terms possible.

7. That whereas in the suggested lines of action the Conference of the Allies undertook to adopt measures for facilitating the exchange of products by the estab- lishment of direct and rapid land and sea transport services at low rates, this com- mittee represent that this would especially assist Jamaican exports, and should be supported so far as possible, but that any subsidies given to steamship lines should be strictly dependent upon-

* No. 15.

8.

91

(a) Control of freight rates by the Government granting the subsidy, and by

the fixing of maximum rates from time to time.

(b) The prohibition of the formation of any conference or combine.

The prohibition of the granting of rebates dependent on the restriction of

business to certain lines.

(d) The provision of suitable accommodation for the safe conveyance of fruit

or other perishable cargo.

That this committee represent that the tariff of this Colony has hitherto been framed with a view to the raising of necessary revenue, but that there would be no objection to the principle of preferential treatment to importations from the United Kingdom, British Possessions and Colonies, and to Allied Nations being adopted, provided that such treatment becomes the practice of the British Empire generally; but that nothing should be done to prevent similar arrangements with other friendly nations who grant reciprocal terms.

Enclosure 2 in No. 25.

MESSAGE FROM HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR TO THE HONOURABLE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN,

I HAVE the honour to transmit, for your information, the accompanying copy of a Circular despatch* from the Secretary of State for the Colonies relative to the steps which are being taken to consider the commercial and industrial policy of the United Kingdom after the conclusion of the War, together with a copy of the "Recommendations of the Economic Conference of the Allies," which formed the enclosure thereto, and to invite an expression of your views with regard to any special circumstances affecting the interest" of the Colony for which it is desirable to secure consideration at the forthcoming conference of representatives of the United Kingdom, the Dominions, and India.

W. H. MANNING,

Governor.

"

King's House, Jamaica,

11th November, 1916.

Enclosure 3 in No. 25.

MESSAGE FROM HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR TO THE HONOURABLE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN,

IN continuation of my message dated the 11th November, 1916, I have the honour to inform you that I caused to be forwarded to the Jamaica Agricultural Society and the Merchants' Exchange copies of the Circular despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies dated the 25th September, 1916, with an intima- tion that I should be glad to receive the views of those societies as to any "special circumstances affecting the interest of the Colony for which it is desirable to secure consideration at the forthcoming conference of representatives of the United Kingdom and India, and now have the honour to lay before you a report† from a special committee of the Board of Management of the Jamaica Agricultural Society in co-operation with a committee of the Merchants' Exchange.

At the same time I have also the honour to lay before you a copy of a further Circular despatch‡ from the Secretary of State for the Colonies dated the 24th October, 1916, on this subject.

W. H. MANNING,

Governor.

King's House,

6th March, 1917.

*No. 1.

+ See enclosure in No. 15.

45879: not printed.

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