BBt^ ^> .A^ "' (meaning CONTINUED"), or the symbol y (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Un des symboles suivants apparattra sur la der- nidre image de chaque microifiche, selon le cas: le symbole — ► signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole V signifie "FIN". The original copy was borrowed from, and filmed with, the kind consent of the following institution: Library of the Public Archives of Canada Maps or plates too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: L'exemplaire film6 fut reproduit grdce d la g6n6rosit6 de I'dtabllssement pr§teur suivant : La bibliothdque des Archives publiques du Canada Les cartes ou les planches trop grandes pour dtre reproduites en un seul clichd sont film^es d partir de Tangle sup6rieure gauche, de gauche d droite et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Le diagramme suivant illustre la mdthode : 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 PROPOSED SCHEME OF IMPERIAL COfflERCIAL UNION, BY J. LAW CRAWFORD. PRICE, 10 CENTS. 7 Published by The Flag Printing and Publishing Co., 48 Rideau Street, Ottawa, Canada. Paynter & Abbott, Printers. PROPOSED SCHEME OF IMPERIAL COMMERCIAL UNION, BY J. LAW CRAWFORD. PRICE, 10 CENTS. Published l)y The Flac; Printing and Publishing Co., 48 Rideau Street, Ottawa, Canada. Paynter & Abbott, Printers. .0)^ ?i ¥■ Trade Chambers of the Empire. House of Commons, Ottawa, May 31st, 1897. Dear Sir, — I have received the copy you sent me of Mr. Law Crawford's pamphlet on Trading Chambers for the Empire. While not committing myself to it in detail I think the subject and his methods of treatment worthy the perusal of every citizen of the Empire. I trust it will have a wide circulation. Yours truly, D. C. Eraser. To Publisher of The Flag, Ottawa. Introductory Note. In placing this paper in the hands of the people of Canada, it may • be proper to slate that while Mr, J. Law Crawford is responsible for the Scheme embodied in the following paper, which has been matured through his work as Secretary of the West of Scotland branch of the Imperial Federation League, and put into its present shape through the Statist One Thousand Guineas Competition, the initiation of a movement to commence giving Mr. Crawford's proposals practical effect rests with a few private citizens of Ottawa. One of them, the Editor of The Flag, knowing Mr. Crawford had been actively engaged in promoting closer relations between Canada, Australia, the other British colonies and the Mother country, some years back, entered into a correspondence which resulted on the completion and availability of Mr. Crawford's paper in its being sent to Ottawa for perusal. It was at once seen that the Scheme, having for its basis a practical business proposal for increasing trade between all sections of the Empire, furnished a platform on which men of all parties desirous of Canadian as well as Colonial and British trade expansion, and not irrevocably committed against Imperial Federation in every shape, could stand. A summary of the paper was printed in Thb Flag of February 3, 1897. This summary attracted attention and led to Mr. Crawford's consent being asked, through the Editor of The Flag, to the publication of his proposals in full in The Flag and in pamphlet form, and to the initiation, of a movement for the formation in Canada of the Premier Chamber under the Scheme. Mr. Crawford complied, and the pamphlet is now given to the public, as a preliminary to the organization of the first Chamber of the Empire under the scheme. Reference has been made to the Statist Thousand Guineas Com- petition, to which we owe the production of this Scheme, as well as others on different lines of Imperial unity. Great credit is due the Statist lor it' patriotic efforts to solve the problem of uniting the various parts ot the Empire. The Statist, it may be said without disparage- ment to other London monetary publications, is a financial p<5wer in Great Britain. It is conducted with a degree of liberality, honesty and ability that entitle it to the highest ' recognition. Had it not been for its Thousand Guineas Competition, the world might never have heard of this Scheme or of the others not less noteworthy in other ways that it called into existence. ^ Proposed Scheme of Imperial Commercial Union. Paper by Mr. J. Law Crawford. ■ * w ■ The leading conditions of the "Statist" i,ooo Guineas Competition for papers on the Commerrial Federation of the Empire were as follow : I. An endeavour should he made to show that the scheme pro- posed will maintain the integrity, and strengthen the defence of the Empire ; and that it is permanently advantageous to the various in- terests whose consent is requisite to its adoption. 2. The possibility of practical application without lone delay is an important element of merit. 3. Summary of proposals sufficiently clear to form the basis of instruction to a Parliamentary draughtsman. It is proposed to form an Association, under the title of the "Imperial Commercial Union," with the object of fulfill- ing the condiiitins indicated above, and of bringing into closer commercial relations the producers, manufacturers traders and raiiiers of the various countries of the Empire ; and that, by means of ; — (i) The estabiishinent, on a self-supporting basis of (a) a Central Representative Chamber in London ; and (d) Branches of the Union in the chief seats of industry^ and commerce throughout the Empire. (2) The election, by the branches, of representatives to the Central London Chamber. (3) The preparation for the use of members of the Central Chambers, and of the Branches' of the Union, of (a) Commercial Registers.to be published annually, \ containing iiitormation as to the origin, prices, modes of packing, freight, expenses and extent of consump- tion of the chief articles of export and import, and also v\ the names and addresses of firms dealing in these articles ; and (d) Commercial Records, supplementary to the annual Registers, to be published weekly, con" taining information as to position of the markets throughout the Empire. (4) The provision of suitable accommodation, in con- fiection with the branches of the Union, for the filing, f6r reference, of the price lists, catalogues and busine:js announcement of members ; and also for ihe exhibition of the samples of producers and manu- facturers. The Registers and Records to contain references to the Commercial Centres in which the price lists and catalogues are filed and samples ex- hibited. (5) The establishment of commercial libraries and read- ing rooms in connection with the Branches, contain- ing technical works on the principal industries ; dictionaries on commercial subjects: directories of producers, mrvnufarturers, traders and carriers, as published in the principal Commercial [Centres of the Empire ; and other publications of service to members in the extension of their individual busi- ness. (6; The establishment in each Branch of (a) bureaus lor furnishing members with information as to the credit of traders contracting with members at a distance ; and (/') agencies for supervising the dslivery of ponds, and the collection and transmission of the prices thereof to members ot Branches in distant patts of the Empire. T ^7) The meeting of the members of the Central and Local Chambers to consider proposals for enabling manufacturers and carriers to obtain more accurate • knowledge of the markets of the various countries of the empire, and to facilitate commercial transactions with the producers and merchants of distant countries. As a large revenue can probably be derived from the services performed by the Union on behalf of its members, and of producers, manufacturers, traders and carriers in general, it is proposed, with a view to the practical appli- cation of the scheme without long delay, to form an inaugur- ation Jomt Stock Company, having a capital not exreedirg ;;^io,ooo for the purpose of makmg preliminary arrange- ments in the leading commercial centres throughout t! e Empire for the formation of a chartered company havin;^ a capital sufficiently large to found an Imperial Commercial Union on a permanent and self-supporting basis. It may be anticipated that the confidence which would be inspired amongst producers, manufacturers, traders and carriers, by the assurance of the Union being in a position to protect the interests of contracting parties resident m different countries of the Empire, would lead to a large in- crease in Inter-Imperial trade. If the services of the Union can be thus shown to be commercially valuable, sufficient revenue from the services thus rendered could probably be obtained to enable the financial department to pay, not only a cumulative preferential dividend of 10 per cent per annum on the sum subscribed for preliminary expenses. and a cumulative preferential dividend of 6 per cent, per annum on the capital subscribed for the equipment of the Branches, but also to provide a fund for the gradual repay- ment of the amount subscribed, together with a sub- stantial bonus on such sums. On repayment of the capital subscribed, the whole of the financial affairs of the Union could be transferred to the Imperial and Colonial Cjovern- ments, free from incumbrances ; to be thereafter admin- istered as a department of the Civil Service of the Empire under the control of the Central Representative Chamber. DIVISIONS OF THE UNION. F^or the purpose of enabling producers, manufacturers, traders a»^d carriers desirous of extending their individual business connections by taking an active part in the work of the Union, to incorporate that work with their ordinary avocations, it is proposed to arrange the divisions of the Union under the following heads, viz : — I Conmierce. II The Empire. III Branches of the Imperial Commercial Union. IV Individual Members of the Branches. V Ontral Chamber of Representatives. I. COMMERCE. (The following to be added to, as desired.) Departments, (i) Production; (2) Manufactures and Trade; (3) Conveyance, and (4) Trade facilities. (1) Production. Divided into — Agriculture, Live Stock, Fisheries, and Minerals. , I Sub-divided into — Agriculture — {a) Wheat ; {b) Barley ; (t) Rice, etc. Live Stock — {a) Horses ; {b) Cattle ; {c) Sheep, etc. Fisheries— (a) Cod; {b) Salmon; {c) Pearl, etc. MiNERAi.s--(a) Coal; {b) Gold ; {c) Diamonds, etc. (2) Manufactures and Trade. Divided into — Textile Industries, Metal Industries, Building Industries, Earthenware and Glass, Chemi- cals, Leather Industries, etc. Sub-divided into — Textile Industries — {a) Cotton, {b) Woollens, (r) Linen, {d) Jute, (e) Silk, etc. Metal Industries^— (a) Machinery, {b) Cutlery, {c) Clock?, etc. Building Industries — (a) Stone cutting, {b) Brick making, etc. Earthenware and Glass — {a) Porcelain, {b) Mirrors, etc. Chemicals — (a) Soda, {b) Sulphuric acid, etc, Leather Industries — {a) Tanning, {b) Shoes, etc. (3) Conveyance. Divided into — Maritime Transport, Inland Transport, Posts, and Electric communication. Sub-divided into — Maritime Transport — («) Steam Navigation, {b) Sail- ing Vessels, etc. Inland Transport — (a) River and Canal Systems, (b) Railways and Tramways, {c) Roads and Bridges, etc. Posts — {a) Inland Postage, {b) Colonial Postage, {cf Foreign Postage, etc. Electric Communication— («) Telegraphs, {b) Sub- marine Cables, {c) Telephones, etc. (4) Trade Facilities. Divided into — Banks and Financial Companies, Joint Stock Companies, Dock Companies, Insurance Companies, etc. other Leading Indusu-ies. Divided into — Shipbuilding, Furniture, Paper, Clothing, etc. II. THE EMPIRE. Divided into —(a) Countries and {b) Commercial Centres. A. COUNTRIES. ». The Unite «^Kingdom. i-vi^-;^ j 2. The Empire of India. j&^^-'i'i''"\ I 3. The Dominion of Canada. >•--' ^ -.ry 'j 4. The Australian Colonies. 5. The South Afri<:an Colonies and Dependencies. 6. The Medilsr ranean and other possessions on the route to India. 7. The West Indian, and Central, and South American possessions. 8. The East Indian and other possessions on the Pacific route. B. COMMERCIAL CENTRES. 1. The United Kingdom. {a) London, (b) Glasgow, (<•) Manchester, {d) Liverpool, {e) Bitmi'jgham, (/) Beliast, etc. 2. The Indian Empire. {a) Calcutta, {b) Bombay, {c) Madras, {d) Lucknow, {e) Benares, (/) Colombo, etc. 3. The Dominion of Canada. {a) Montreal, {b) Toronto, {c) Quebec, {d) Hamilton, {e) Ottawa, (/) Halifax, etc. 4. Australian Colonies. {a) Melbourne, (b) Sydney, (^) Adelaide, {d) Brisbane, {e) Perth, (/) Hobart, {g) Auckland, {h) Dunedin, 5. The South African Colonies and Dependencies. {a) Cape Town, {b) Port Elizabeth, {c) Grahamstoti, (; Port Royal, (c) St. John's Town, (^) Pore of Spain, (e) Bridgetown, (/) Belize, (^) George- town, etc. 8. The East ladies and Other Possessions on the Pacific Route. (a) Sin}^apore, (d) Hongkong, (c) Fiji, etc. It will be noted that only a few of the leading indus- tries and commercial centres are specified. It is intended that others be added to suit the membership of each Branch. III. BRANCHES Ol^' THE IMPERIAL COMMERCIAL UNION. It is proposed that the Chartered Company establish agencies in the whole or a number of the foregoing com mercial centres and in such other important seats of industry in the various countries of the Empire as may be found ex- pedient, with a view to the development of such agencies into self-supporting Branches of the Union; such Branches being divided into the Departments before indicated under the heading of Commerce. Every subject of Her Majesty being directly or in- directly dependent upon one or more of these Departments of Commerce, and all desirous of aiding the movement for the Commercial and Imperial Federation of the Empire, may find positions enabling them to do so, and also to advance the interests of the industries with which they may be personally connected. In the event of the Branches proving their capability of being permanently advantageous in the extension of the business connections of individual members, it may be 5?T^?^!^!KR!H!ffl! 9 anticipated that a revenue, as already indicated, will be derived from (i) the subscriptions of the members thus benefited ; (2) the annual issue of separate Commercial Registers relating to paitirular trades; (3) weekly Commer- cial Records and other publication.^ of the Union ; and (4) the agencies for facilitating business transactions between members resident in distant parts of the Empire ; and that suc'i revenue will be sufficiei t to maintain the Branches in a state of efficiency ; to increase the utility and strengthen the resources of the Central Representative Chamber in London, to repay the capital and provide a bonus for the shareholders of the company and ultimately to transfer the organisation to the Empire unencumbered. It is proposed that each Branch be arranged under the following departments, viz. : (i) Production ; (2) Manu- factures and Trade ; (3) Conveyance, and (4) Trade faciU- tes ;and that these departments be divided and subdivided as indicated under " Commerce." each distinct industry find- ing a place. As the leading industries are common to many Com- mercial Centres, it is proposed that each be divided as indicated under " The Empire," each member desiring to take an active interest in the work of the Union being thus able, as above mentioned, to find a position representative of the particular trade and locality with which he may be specially connected. The increased knowledge of markets, modes of con- veyance and trade facilities, thus acquired, would probably la'-gely augment the present volume of interprovincial com- 10 merce and thereby further secure the integrity of the Empire and the strengthening of its defencea. IV. INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE BRANCHES. It is proposed that each member of a Branch desiring to represent a particular industry and Commercial Centre, be assigni d a position as above indicated and be commissioned (i) to ascertain the existing facihties for carrying on busi- ness in connection with such particular industry, between the Commercial Centre in which he is resident, and the Centre represented by him in the Branch ; and (2) to make such suggestions as may appear to him expedient for im- proving the modes of conveyance and other trade facilities between the two Centres. In view of the commissions to be granted to members, each Branch may consist of Commissioners and Ordinary Members, and may be known as the Chamber of Commis- sioners for the Commercial Centre in which it is situated. The Commissioners may be elected annually by the members of each of the four divisions of Production, Manu- factures and Trade, Conveyance and Trade Facilities. The Commissioners of each of these divisions may elect annually one of their number to be Chief Commissioner of the. division. The President of the Chamber and four Chief Commissioners, may form the Council of the Chamber with the addition of such other members as may be found ex pedient. Each Lpcal Chamber or group of Chambers may be empowered to send one or more Representatives to the Central Chamber in London. In the event of the establishment of Local Chambers throughout the Mother Country, the Colonies and Depen- ij. 11 dencies, the Central Chamber will thus ultimately form t. body representative of the Empire as a whole, and it may be expected to exercise the powerful influence of the united Chambers in submitting to the Imperial and Colonial Parliaments proposals for improving the trade relations amongst the countries governed by these Parliaments and ^or maintaining the integrity of the Empire and strengthen- ing the defences of all its parts. The Central Chamber, composed of business men drawn from or connected with all the countries of the Empire, and therefore familiar with all the leading require- ments and aspirations of each, would be eminently qualified ^o gradually evolve a system of Imperial Federation such as would be acceptable to all the countries of the Empire re- presented in the Chamber. In the formation of Chambers of Commissioners in Commercial Centres the positions and duties of the leading members may be arranged as follows : — (i) The President to preside at meetings of the Council and the Chamber. (2) The four Divisional Commissioners to preside at meetings of their respective divisions, and to direct the operations of the Ordinary Commissioners. The President and Divisional Commissioners to form the Council of the Chamber. (3) The Deputy to the Central Chamber in London to attend meetings of that Chamber and bring before it the business deputed to him by the Council. (4) The General Secretary to act as Clerk to the Council and to receive reports from the Divisional Secretaries. (5) The General Treasurer to receive all the moneys from the Divisional Treasurers, and other sour.es for the funds of the Chamber. ■li 12 (6) The Ordinary Commissioners to endeavour to im- prove the trade facilities bet\.'een their own Centres and the Centres represented by them in the Chamber. (7) The Ordinary Members to further the interests of the Union by their support and influence. V. CENTRAL CHAMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES. Assuming that the proposed Company succeeds in forming Local Chambers of Commissioners by means of their agencies in the leading Commercial Centres through- out the Empire, the Chambers thus termed would probably find little difficulty in selecting suitable representatives from amongst business men resident in London, and engaged in active trading operations with the Commercial Centres to which the Chambers nominating them belong. The Representatives chosen would probably be en- trusted with the duty of making the preliminary arrange- ments for establishing the Central Representative Chamber on a permanent basis, including the preparation of a Bill to 6e submitted to the Imperial and Colonial Parliaments having such objects in view as those suggested in the annexed Summary. Many questions of great interest to producers, manu- facturers, traders and carriers, await the consideration of a Chamber representative of the Empire as a whole. Amongst these the most important is that of free trade within the Empire. As the Customs and Duties imposed by the Colonies on British and Foreign goods are chiefly required to enable the Governments of the Colonies to develope the resources of their territoiies, the Central Representative Chamber iij.i J 18 would probably be in a position to negotiate and carry out arrangements whereby the Imperial Government could pro- vide funds, on suitable terms, to develope these resources in return for the abclition or modification of tariffs between the various countries of the Empire jeach Colony being left entire liberty of action in relation to its Customs and Duties on goods of foreign origin. The next question of importance is the Federation of the Colonies ot Australasia, and of South Africa, and also the Federation of the Empire as a whole, with inter alia a view to the strengthening of the Army and Navy for defen- sive purposes, and the contribution towards the cost of strengthening the defences by every country of the Empire, according t*^ its circumstances, and the benefits derived Irom the expenditure. Amongst other questions the following would probably find a place, viz. : — The appointment of a Commission of practical Agri culturists, representative of the Empire, to consider the position of the producers of the chief articles of food supply in the Mother Country and Dependencies, and to propose measures for the improvement of the condition of this most important industry. The appointment of Mining and Agricultural Experts to explore, survey and report on the undeveloped territories ot the Empire with a view to the opening up of new fields for emigration ; the relief of congested districts ; and the establishment of fresh markets for the products and manu- factures of Commercial Centres. The improvement of transport by rail and sea between the various countries of the Empire, and particularly the increase of light railways throughout the Empire. 14 The establishment of Imperial Penny Postage. The acquisition of existing, and the increase in the number of, submarine cables by the Imperial and Colonial Governments with a view to the lowering of rates. The consideration of the question of Bimetallism with a view to find a remedy for the defects of the existing cur- rency systems. The support of the Chambers of Commerce in the movement for improved systems of commercial and technical education, on the lines indicated by the Royal Commission on the Depression of Trade. The preparation of popular handbooks on the history, geography and commercial facilities of the Colonies and Dependencies. The formation of Boards of Arbitration and Concilia- tion in the various countries of the Empire, for the adjust- ment and settlement of disputes between employers and employees. Generally the steps to be taken to make the British Empire a commercial unit, to federate its parts in order to prevent disintegration, to secure by the power of combined forces immunity from serious warfare, and to enable pro- ducers, , manufacturers, traders and carriers the better to withstand the ever increasing competition and hostile tariffs of foreign nations. SUMMARY. Summary of proposed Scheme intended to form the basis of instruction to a F'arh'amenlary Draughtsman, in accordance with the con- ditions of the Competition. .Assuming that the proposed Chartered Company suc- ds in establishing the Imperial Commercial Union, the i-.-.j 1 10 consideration of the terms upon which the organisation is to be transferred to the Imperial and Colonial Governments will devolve upon the Central and Local Chambers of Commissioners. A Draft Bill, embodying such recommen- dations as the following, may be fiamed for discussion and amendment : 1. In the event of it being found expedient to transfer the Organisation to the Governments prior to the repayment of the whole of the Capital expended on its establishment, provision to be made for securing the rights of the original subscribers. 2. The various countries of the Empire to be divided into Districts. A Local Chamber of Commissioners to be established in the Commercial Centre of each district. 3. The powers and duties of the office-bearers and members of the Local Chambers of Commerce to be defined. 4 Regulations governing the election of Members of the Council of Local Chambers, and of Representatives to the Central Chamber in London to be detailed. 5. The powers and duties of Representatives to the Central Chamber to be defined. » 6. The Central and Local Chambers to provide for the maintenance of the Union on a self-supporting basis, by the pre])aration of tables of rates and charges to be levied for bcrvices rendered in connection with mercantile transactions between the various countries of the Empire. 7. The Central Chambers to be empowered to pass ordinances for the better development of the natural re- sources of the countries of the Empire, the improvement of the means of production, the extensiori of facilities for com- munication between distant parts, the removal of barriers to freedom of trade, and the cultivation of existing and the opening up of fresh markets within the Empire. 16 S, The formation of a Second Chamber composed of members nominated by Her Majesty, the Imperial and Colonial Parliaments, the Government of India, the Privy Council, the Prime Minister, the Secretary for the Colonies, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the War Office, the Admiralty, the Board of Trade, the Board of Agriculture, the Local Government Board, the Associated Chambers of Commerce, Chambers of Shipping, and the Central Cham- ber of the Union. 9. The empowering of the Second Chamber to pass, amend, or reject, in accordance with the rules of Parlia- ment, the Ordinances passed by the Central Chamber of the Union. 10. Any Ordinance passed by the Central and Second Chamber of the Union to be submitted to the Imperial and Colonial Parliaments for adoption or rejection, without dis- cussion : if adopted, the Ordinance to have the force and effect of an Act of Patliament within the jurisdiction of the Parliament by which it is idopted ; if rejected, the Ordinance to be void within the jurisdiction of the Parliament exercis- ing the power of veto ; provision being made for amend- ment and re-submission to such Parliament APPENDIX. (Notes on the foregoing Scheme in rci i Jon to the conditions of the competition.) Integrity of the Empire. The British Empire in its essentials is the greatest in the world, and the maintenance of its integrity, which is of personal interest to every subject of Her Majesty, may be taken to mean : The maintenance of its area, population, -j^ 17 commerce, wealth and prestige. As the value of *hese es eniials can be best shown by comparison, it may not be i inppropriate to append a few figures, derived from recent s atistics, showing the extent of the countries of the Empire that would be influenced by Commercial Federation. Area of the Empire. — Europe embraces withip its are* 3,797,410 square miles. The British Empire, cover- '"8 * '»399>3i6 square miles, is three times larger. The Russian Empire is 10,734,600 square miles. Fopulation. — The population of the world is estimated to be about 1,479,729,000. The population of the British Em|ftMJ^^ir.^■«^fc4^Jt:■«/toC.fc■K^»■I