334 Timehri. 



subjects of common interests, it is for the good of each unit to take coun- 

 sel with the others, and we find the inception of conferences of experts 

 on various subjects, with which you are doubtless familiar and which I 

 need not now enumerate. And lastly we find that great step in the 

 history of the West Indies, when delegates from the various colonies 

 went forth together to Canada and there united in making the first 

 trading agreement which the West Indies have ever made. 



A West Indian Chamber of Commerce. 



So far so good. And now what is to be the next step ? At the last 

 Agricultural Conference, one could notice a desire to extend the scope 

 of proceedings to commercial subjects. So the idea suggested itself — 

 if Conferences on agricultural matters, why not Conferences on com- 

 mercial matters ; and if Commercial Conferences, who more fitted to take 

 part in them than the different Chambers of Commerce ? In other words, 

 why not an Association of Chambers of Commerce of the British West 

 Indies ? When, later in the year, the Triennial Congress of Chambers of 

 Commerce of the Empire met in London, the need of such an Association 

 became more apparent. In matters of both Imperial and local importance 

 the Associated Chambers of Great Britain, of South Africa and of 

 Australia could give their views, but the voice of the united West Indies 

 was not heard. So, with the Articles of these other Associations a as 

 model, Articles for a West Indian Chamber have been drawn up, which 

 have been approved by the Imperial Council of Commerce (which as you 

 may know is composed of the leading business men of the Empire to 

 promote the Triennial Congresses), by the West India Committee (which 

 as you know represents West Indian interests in England) and by all the 

 West [ndian colonies except Jamaica, which for reasons which one can 

 quite understand, prefers to stand outside. It is to be hoped that the 

 details of our Chamber will be completed in time to allow it to hold its 

 inaugural meeting in the early part of next year, so that delegates may 

 be appointed to represent it at the Congress of Chambers of the Empire 

 which is to assemble at Toronto in the following June. 



Support in England. 



As showing the interest taken in this movement at home, may I 

 read you extracts from two letters, which I do not think have yet been 

 published ? The first is from Mr. Charleton, the Chairman of the Imperial 

 Council of Commerce. He says : 



" Knowing as I do the value of similar Associations for the United King- 

 dom, Australia and South Africa and that a similar body is in contemplation 

 in Canada, I think that the scheme is well worthy of the consideration of our 

 West Tndian friends, inasmuch as, while it does not interfere with the inde- 

 pendent action of individual Chambers in purely local matters, it will tend to 

 promote effective co-operation in matters of common interest, and will enable 

 the West Indies collectively to take that share in the proceedings of future 

 Congresses of the Empire to which they are entitled by the important interests 

 they represent." 



