SPECIAL REPORTS FOR FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION. 213

The filling of this position required a great deal of care on the
part of the council, as it was essential that the association’s commissioner
 should not only have a thorough knowledge of the Chinese
language and methods, but should also be intimately acquainted with
high Chinese officials and with the officials of the British and other
legations. The association has been fortunate in securing the services
. a gentleman who possesses these qualifications in a high degree.
The duties of the commissioner may be classified in the following
manner:
(1) To gain an inner knowledge of all those matters which affect
British engineering interests and to keep the association promptly
and accurately informed on these subjects.
(2) To use his influence and that of the association to secure, as
far as possible, British advisers and instructors to the Chinese in
engineering matters.
(8) To know how contracts are to be given out and to influence
buyers in favor of members of the association.
(4) To get the names of members on the Government and other
lists in connection with contracts.
(5) To make it clear to the Chinese purchasers that they will be
treated fairly by members of this association and that its members
are capable, between them, of supplying everything in the way of
an engineering plant that China may require. :
(6) To make full use of the fact that the association is formally
recognized by the foreign office.
(7) To introduce members who may be traveling in China to
officials or anyone who cap help them to secure business.
(8) To be constantly on the lookout for young Chinese who are
destined to be engineers and are likely to occupy good positions, so
that they can be trained under British influence either in China or
Great Britain. .
The commissioner is not entitled to give any advice or assistance
to anyone, even if an applicant for advice purports to be the agent
or representative of a member, unless he possesses credentials from
the association.
Tar OBJECTS.

The objects for which the association is established as set forth in
the memorandum of-association are: _
(1) To promote and protect the general interests of British manufacturing
engineers.
(2) To consider all questions connected with such interests. .
(3) To promote or oppose legislation and other measures affecting such
interests.
(4) To collect and circulate statistics and other information affecting the
general interests of British engineers and to diffuse amongst its members information
 on all matters affecting such interests.
(5) To support the British Government, bankers, financial corporations, shipping
 and railway companies, and any other organizations in promoting the
general interests of British manufacturing engineers.
(6) To watch and report upon the methods and progress of foreign competitors
 in Asiatic and other markets and to suggest methods of counteracting foreign
 influences.
(7) To encourage the predominance of British technical instructors in Asiatic
 and other schools.
(8) To encourage technical colleges and schools in Great Britain to give
facilities for oriental and other students, and to establish or aid in the estab-