AgriculturaI and Commercial Society. 27 
Jniperial Institute, and in foreign countries througli 
His Majesty's Diplomatic and Consular Representatives. 
7. The High Commissioner for Canada, the Agents 
General for the Australasian and South African 
Colonies, and the Chambers of Commerce have shown 
every readiness to help the work of the new office ; 
and arrangements have already been made with the 
Imperial Institute to co-operate in giving information 
witli regard to enquiries of a technical character, and, 
should the need arise, in the matter of the exhibition 
and disposal of samples of such foreign manufactures 
as compete with British made goods ; but this does 
not fully supply the want of a properly organised 
system of interchanging commercial intelligence between 
the United Kingdom and the Colonies. 
8. The enquiries which, from time to time, reach the 
Colonial Office or the Board of Trade, and those 
enquiries which have, so far, been addressed directly 
to the new Intelligence Branch are most varied and 
minute. Besides the ordinary queries as to customs 
duties, trade mark legislation &c., they raise many 
points of commercial law and practice ; they include 
questions as to the condition of markets and openings 
for new ventures in all parts of the world, particularly 
in the British Colonies ; as well as questions relating 
to tlie names of traders and the diffi3rent classes of 
goods for which there is a demand : they also have 
reference to the opportunities for tendering for public 
and municipal works and contracts. 
The Governments of the Colonies will no doubt 
gladly give material aid in the collection of this 
information. 
9. The object to be aimed at is twofold — 
(a.) The regular transmission to this country of 
such commercial information as will, if 
possible, anticipate enquiries. 
(b.) The establishment of a recognised system 
under which such enquiries as cannot be 
D 2 
