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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

CO.885/25

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| PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

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Indies at Trinidad, drawing the attention of His Majesty's Government to the matter.

13.

Extension of Consular Service.-We support also. the recommendation adopted at the same meeting of the Associated Chambers of Commerce for an improve- ment and extension of the Consular Service in the direction of provision of an adequate staff, preferably with business training, the appointment of Consuls (in- cluding as far as possible Consular Agents) who are British subjects, and of officials having a knowledge of the language of the country to which they are accredited.

14. Introduction of Decimal System.-In this Colony the banks and most of the business houses keep their accounts in decimal currency, while those of Government are kept in sterling. The advantages of the former system in ease of calculation and saving of time are so apparent that we recommend the intro- duction of a uniform decimal system of currency, weights, and measures for the British Empire. We are of opinion that eventually the change would lead to a great extension of British trade in the many countries that already have such a system.

(c) To what extent and by what means the resources of the Empire should,

and can, be developed.

15. The extent to which cultivable land in Grenada is already under profit- able cultivation does not permit of any further great development. It is essential to safeguard the industries that are established, as pointed out in paragraphs 7 and 8.

16. The productiveness of the island is already steadily being encouraged by the policy of land settlement, under which estates are purchased by Government and allotted to settlers on easy purchase terms extending over several years. As the island is well populated-five hundred and fifty persons to the square mile- there is no scope for the settlement of other than natives of the Colony.

17. Further assistance to settlers and to small proprietors generally may be possible by establishing agricultural credit societies and an agricultural or land mortgage bank. In our opinion the financial requirements of these undertakings are quite capable of being met by local resources backed by Government support.

(d) To what extent and by what means the sources of supply within the

Empire can be prevented from falling under foreign control.

Protective Tariff.

18. The introduction of the tariff measures referred to in the earlier part of this report appears to us to be essential to the protection of the sources of supply within the Empire.

Measures in connexion with Shipping.

19. We recommend that enemy shipping should be required for a period after the War to pay higher dues in British ports; that no British Government subsidies should be granted to enemy shipping; that foreign tonnage in Empire ports should conform to conditions obligatory on Empire shipping; that preference should be given to British shipping by lower tonnage dues and port charges; and that privileges accorded to Allied and neutral shipping should be equivalent only to corresponding privileges granted by Allied and neutral countries.

20. In respect of any subsidy to a steamship service between the United Kingdom and the West Indies, we recommend that freight rates should be con- trolled, and, if practicable, that the formation of any conference or combine, as also the system of rebates, which operates against legitimate competition, should be prohibited.

Trading by Enemy Subjects.

21. We recommend that enemy subjects should be prevented by legislation for a period after the War from engaging in business or taking up employment or domicile within the Empire, and that registration of aliens be made compulsory. We consider that measures should be adopted to make it necessary for com- mercial or travelling agents from Allied and neutral countries, before obtaining custom, to produce certificates of nationality of themselves and the houses they represent.

Provision should also be made to prevent persons of enemy nationality from being engaged in any banking, investment, or such like business within the Empire.

Naturalization.

22. We support the following resolution passed at the meeting of the Associated Chambers of Commerce already referred to :—

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"(a) That in the case of aliens from late enemy countries British citizen- ship or naturalization should not be allowed until after twenty years uninter- rupted residence under registration in the British Empire, but in the case of other aliens the period be five years; (b) that the oath of allegiance be accom- panied by an oath of divestment of allegiance to the Power of which the person has hitherto been a subject; and (c) that in order to obtain the privileges of British citizenship, the children of alien parentage within the Empire be required to take out naturalization papers on attaining their majority."

Trade-marks.

We recommend the registration of trade-marks throughout the Empire as a protection against infringement by foreign manufacturers, and, further, that persons of enemy nationality should be prohibited from having trade-marks registered in the Empire. We are of opinion also that an extension of trade in Empire-made goods would result if manufacturers adopted a stamp for their goods indicating the place or country of manufacture.

Summary of Report.

I. As permanent measures, we recommend that a tariff be introduced throughout the Empire, including the United Kingdom, providing for a preference in favour of Empire goods, a slighter degree of preference for goods of Allied or Allied and neutral countries, and substantial protection against imports of enemy origin.

That the export of products essential to enemy industries and for the supplies of which they are mainly dependent on the British Empire be prohibited, regard being had to the economic results of such a measure on individual parts of the Empire, and to providing compensatory outlets for products debarred from such export.

II.

III. That to aid in effecting these measures, which will entail additional work in connexion with certificates of origin and destination, and to aid in extend- ing British trade generally, the Consular Service be strengthened and improved. IV. Under the heading (a) of the specific questions referred to us, we draw attention to the chief industries of Grenada, pointing out that these are already firmly established, but that their maintenance, which is so necessary to the economic existence of the Colony, would be safeguarded by a preference in British markets. V. Under the heading (b), that Grenada has suffered no loss of trade but that there has been a degree of transference of trade to the United States of America owing to war conditions, the reversion of which to the United Kingdom will depend greatly on improved steamship services between the United Kingdom and the West Indies; instancing that a recently arisen trade in motor-cars has been captured by the United States of America by reason of a greater degree of standardization and facilities for obtaining renewals and spare parts; that the removal of the thirty per cent. differential duty imposed by Venezuela would lead to increased trade from this Colony; that an improved Consular Service as pre- viously referred to would be an advantage: and recommending a uniform decimat system of currency, weights, and measures throughout the Empire...

VI. Under heading (c), that although the resources of Grenada are already well developed, and are being further stimulated by the policy of land settlement for natives of the Colony, further encouragement, may be possible by the agency of agricultural credit societies and an agricultural or land mortgage bank, financed by local resources with Government support.

VII. Under heading (d) we recommend (1) the introduction of a differential tariff as referred to under I. and II.; (2) penalizing enemy shipping and favouring Empire shipping by differential tonnage dues and port charges, prohibition of subsidies to enemy shipping, and requiring foreign tonnage to conform to condi- tions obligatory on British shipping; (3) that in respect of any subsidy to a United Kingdom-British West Indies steamship service freight rates should as far as practicable be controlled and combines and the rebate system prohibited: