on the fringe of the continent, and that later on mineral discoveries, 
paricularly discoveries of gold, and the pursuit of agriculture had 
resulted in a large increase of population, followed by the develop- 
ment of secondary industries. We knew that these had been 
fostered by various means to meet a natural desire for independence 
of other countries in the matter of the provision of the necessaries 
of life for the Australian people and for the provision of employ- 
ment for a growing population. We knew that these develop- 
ments had resulted in the establishment of a great Dominion of 
the British Empire, consisting of a people almost entirely of British 
descent and numbering over 6,000,000 persons, whose record of 
achievement as pioneers, administrators and soldiers, stands as high 
as any to be found in the history of the world. But it was evident 
that if we were to do justice to our task we must acquire a know- 
ledge of Australia much more intimate than any general 
acquaintance with the outlines of her history can give. 
4. Our itinerary has been lengthy and our investigations varied. 
The effect produced by them on our minds has been, in many 
cases, intensified by going over much similar ground and being 
confronted with similar problems in each State. 
5. The opinions we express are based on the evidence which 
has come before us In various ways, at our numerous conferences, 
and in official reports and other literature which has been furnished 
to us. In the time at our disposal it is obvious that we have been 
unable to conduct a detailed scrutiny into this evidence. Our 
report should be looked at as representing the judgment of four 
business men on the data placed before us after a brief but com- 
prehensive survey of the conditions of the country. We realize 
that others have had greater experience in Australia than we can 
pretend to. We are indeed struck with the ability of the reports 
of Royal Commissions and other enquiring bodies in the past, and 
with the scope and thoroughness of the evidence furnished to 
them. We are aware that our own enquiries on specific subjects 
may have been less exhaustive than theirs, and that our know- 
ledge is less profound than that of many able writers and thinkers 
on political and economic subjects in Australia; but their know- 
ledge, in so far as it is recorded, has been before ns when we 
have formed our judgment. 
6. Our terms of reference, it will be observed, lay emphasis 
on the problems of the promotion of trade and commerce between 
Great Britain and Australia and of the increase of settlement in 
Australia. It early became clear to us that these problems should 
be approached from the point of view of what is best for Australia 
herself in the belief that the increase of Australia’s prosperity 
and productivity is an essential condition of increased trade with 
Great Britain. Given the maximum possible prosperity and wealth 
production in Australia, the ties between Australia and Great 
Britain are sufficiently close and the sentiments of common loyalty 
which bind the one to the other are sufficiently strong to secure