27 
TOUR OF THE FIFTH CONGRESS OF THE 
CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE OF THE 
EMPIRE THROUGHOUT CANADA. 
(Wits Lantern Views). 
By Mr. THOS. CROOK, Secretary of the Burnley 
Chamber of Commerce. 1st March, 1904. 
In the absence of the President, the chair was occupied by 
Mr. W. Lancaster. 
The Lecturer, who was well received, said : 
The Congress was the first of its kind held outside England, 
and so successful was it, that the experiment will be repeated in 
other parts of the Empire. It is expected that South Africa will 
be the next place of meeting, and that the various Colonies will 
be visited by the Congress in turn afterwards. 
In addition to the three hundred representatives of Canadian 
interests who attended, there were present at the Congress, two 
hundred and fifty delegates hailing from every quarter of the 
globe : the commerce of India, the West Indies, Australia, South 
Africa, and the British Isles being well represented. It was for 
these over-sea delegates, to give them an opportunity of seeing 
the kind of country Canada really was, and to enable them to 
form an idea of her potentialities, that the ‘* All Canada Tour,” 
as it was called, was arranged. 
Although economic questions are essentially scientific questions, 
and as such, eminently suitable for a Literary and Scientific 
Club to discuss, it is not on that phase of the subject upon 
which I purpose to dwell to-night. 
Having treated of the business part of the Congress in my 
report to the Council of the Chamber, I prefer here to treat our 
visit to Canada in a lighter vein, regarding it more from its 
social, rather than from its political or econcmic aspects, and our 
party as on pleasure bent, rather than on business intent, Nor 
