21 AUGUST 1909, Page 2

On Saturday last it was announced that a Commission had

been appointed to report upon "the measures that may be taken for the promotion of closer trade relations and for the develop- ment of mutual trading facilities between Canada and the West Indian Colonies." An excellent Chairman has been chosen in Lord Balfour of Burleigh, who has repeatedly served in a similar capacity with the utmost efficiency, the other British representative being Sir John Dickson-Poynder. The remaining Commissioners are Sir Daniel Morris, whose expert knowledge of West Indian industries dates from 1879, and who served as scientific adviser to Mr. Chamberlain's West India Commission in 1898; Mr. Fielding, the Canadian Minister of Finance ; and Mr. Paterson, the Canadian Minister of Customs.