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