6 Royal Colonial Institute. 



or all parts of the Empire, in order to discuss questions of common interest with a view 

 to regulating and co-ordinating the conditions of Empire trade and industry. 



It is manifest what a sphere of usefulness is here opened out, and how well adapted 

 the Royal Colonial Institute is, by its situation and membership, to take the lead 

 in such a movement, and already by means of this committee the British Consular 

 service has been made available to the Overseas Dominions. In the past year the 

 representatives of this committee have been, to a great extent, occupied with the 

 question how to secure for Great Britain branches of trade, within the Empire, 

 hitherto held by Germany, but it has done good work in other directions. 



Again, there is the difficult subject of emigration. To a great extent indeed this 

 question has been settling itself. Thus it is very striking how in recent years, without 

 State action, the current of general British emigration has been diverted from the 

 United States to the Overseas Dominions. At the same time there are many ways in 

 which State action might be desirable. The Royal Colonial Institute has now a 

 standing Emigration Committee representing both its own members and the leading 

 emigration societies. This committee has recommended that an official committee shall 

 be constituted consisting of representatives of the private emigration societies and of 

 experts, including a chairman, nominated by the Government. This committee shall — 



(a) Advise on all general questions of policy affecting emigration. 



(b) Co-ordinate the emigration societies of the United Kingdom. 



(c) Take over the functions of the Emigrants' Information Office. 



{d) Deal with Labour Exchanges, Boards of Guardians, &c., on all matters con- 

 nected with emigration. 



(e) Deal with the High Commissioners, &c., in regard to questions of emigration. 

 Again, on the question of the emigration of women and of children the committee has 

 made recommendations of far-reaching importance. It has tendered evidence before 

 the Dominions' Royal Commission, and has given special attention during the year 

 to the question of obtaining closer co-operation between the Home and Dominion 

 Governments and of securing the interest of Boards of Guardians in the emigration of 

 children under their control. This is not the place to discuss the details of their 

 proposals ; all that we are concerned with here is the vigour and vitality of the parent 

 institution of which they are the testimony and proof. 



Yet another new departure must be mentioned. Recognising that in these days 

 of democracy the task of consoUdating the Empire can no longer safely be left in the 

 hands of the upper and middle classes, the Royal Colonial Institute has sought, 

 by means of popular illustrated lectures, to bring home to the knowledge and the 

 conscience of the people the resources of the Empire and the opportunities and respon- 

 sibilities attending on its right use and development. This work has during the last 

 year been modifiei in character owing to the war ; but it promises, if properly sup- 

 ported by the leading men in the great centres of population, to yield most valuable 

 results. 



To further stimulate interest in the Empire and in Imperial problems, the Council 

 has offered a gold medal for some work of research ; and instituted an Essay Competi- 

 tion for the rising generation at the schools and universities of the Empire. But while 

 the Royal Colonial Institute has been busily at work extending its activities in a 

 practical direction, it has not forgotten its other function of being a store-house of 

 knowledge. Some of us can speak with personal knowledge and gratitude of the 

 benefit its admirable library has been in pursuit of our studies. Over 101,000 

 volumes and pamphlets, not one of which does not relate to the objects of the Institute, 



