The Information Bureau. 53 



(4) To bring the names of persons abroad desiring agencies before British manu- 

 facturers, 



(5) Generally to take an active part in any movement whicli has for its object the 

 improvement of commercial relations between the constituent parts of the British 

 Empire. 



Government and Public Body ConUacts. — The Committee have received a con- 

 siderable number of complaints by m.mufacturers who were hesitating to establish 

 new industries owing to the absence of any guarantee that they would not be destroyed 

 by dumping or other iajurious forms oi foreign comjietition at the close of the war. 

 The question was very thoroughly examined, and a comparison made of the methods 

 in force under the various Governments of the great European States, and the Com- 

 mittee based upon these methods the following resolution : — 



" That, with a view to encouraging the establishment of new industries in 

 the British Empire, and giving a measure of confidence and security to capital 

 to be embarked therein, as well as assisting the expansion of existing industries, 

 the Governments of the Empire be urged to make it obligatory on all Government 

 departments, municipalities, railway, dock and harbour boards, gas, water and 

 electric light corporations, and all such bodies spending public moneys or enjoying 

 charters from Government, or other public authorities, to purchase Empire - 

 made goods, and to place all contracts with British firms ; exceptions to be 

 made by special permission of proper authority only in cases where such a course 

 is considered to be at variance with public interest." 



A detailed note of some of the further activities of the Committee will be found 

 upon p. 345, in the section of the Annual Report dealing with the Committee's work. 



XVni.— THE INFORMATION BUREAU. 



The Bureau is under the control of the Trade and Industry Committee, and fulfils 

 in its one aspect that function of the Committee's work above described (XVII. — Empire 

 Trade and Industry Committee) which deals with trade, commercial and industrial 

 inquiries of what kind soever. Replies to these, in addition to the great volume of 

 trade queries due to the war are drawn from the information at the disposal of the 

 Institut econcerning : (a) The resources and opportunities for trade, enterprise and 

 employment in the Overseas Dominions of the Empire. For this work there is a 

 distribution to applicants of ofiicial pamphlets of the Governments of the Dominions 

 and Colonies as well as of Boards of Trade, Chambers of Commerce and similar bodies. 

 (6) Empire transportation and intercommunication. For this work circulars, time- 

 tables and pamphlets will be available for reference or distribution. 



The Bureau in its other aspect underfcikes to deal with inquiries of a general nature 

 emanating from Fellows and Associates of the Institute, especially, for example, such 

 as relate to the facilities and amenities of life in the Mother Country. This branch 

 of the work, is, of course, of most value to non-resident Fellows and Associates visiting 

 the Mother Country ; it includes the issue of practical information (not advice) 

 concerning educational facilities, medical treatment, hotels and such like accommo 

 dation, amusements, places of interest, and the like. 



