APPENDIX A.
13
APPENDIX A.
Copy of Notice sent to Mayors of Boroughs, Chambers of
Commerce, and Free Libraries, and to the Indian and
Colonial Governments, for distribution. (See p. 4.)
“ The New Commercial Intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade.
“ The Intelligence Branch of the Commercial Department of the Board
“ of Trade has been established with a view to meet the constantly
“ increasing demand for prompt and accurate information on commercial
“ matters, so far as it can be met by Government action. In deciding
“ to establish this new branch, the Board of Trade have been largely
“ influenced by the recommendations contained in the Report of a
“ Departmental Committee composed not only of representatives of the
“ various Government Departments concerned, but also of prominent
“ representatives of commercial interests, which was appointed by Mr.
“ Ritchie, the President of the Board, in July, 1897. The Committee
“ referred to was requested to consider and advise (1) as to the best means
“ of collecting and of disseminating among those interested prompt and
“ accurate information upon commercial subjects, and (2) as to the collection
“ of samples, especially of goods of foreign manufacture competing with
“ British productions, and the exhibition of such samples to manufacturers
44 and traders in this country. As a result of their deliberations the
“ Committee recommended under head (1) the establishment of a new
“ office, under the Board of Trade, on lines which the Board have followed
“ generally in the creation of the Intelligence Branch, and this Branch
“ is consequently intended to become a centre at which information on
“ all subjects of commercial interest shall be collected and focussed in a
“ form convenient for reference. In addition, it will be the duty of the
“ Branch, as far as circumstances permit, to afford information in reply
“ to all inquiries on commercial matters which may be addressed to it,
“ whether written or verbal.
“The new office which is temporarily housed at No. 50, Parliament
“ Street, London, S.W., was opened on the 23rd October, 1899 ; its principal
“ officer (under the Comptroller-General of the Commercial, Statistical, and
Labour Departments of the Board of Trade) being Mr. T. Worthington,
“ who recently acted as Special Commissioner to the Board in an inquiry
“ into the condition and prospects of British trade in certain South American
“ countries. The ‘ Intelligence Branch ’ will endeavour, on application being
“ made to it, to supply information with regard to the following subjects,
“ viz. :—Commercial Statistics; Matters relating to Foreign and Colonial
“ Tariffs; Excise and 4 Consumption’ duties; Port, Harbour, and Tonnage dues,
44 and other charges on Shipping ; Customs Regulations ; Consular Fees ; Forms
“ of Certificates of Origin ; Regulations concerning Commercial Travellers ;
“ Trading Licences; Foreign and Colonial Contracts open to Tender; Foreign
44 and Colonial Bounties ; Lists of Firms engaged in particular lines of business
44 in different localities ; fyc., §c. An Inquiry Room, at which copies of
44 official publications, directories, and other works of reference may be con-“
suited, is reserved at the offices of the Branch for the convenience of
44 personal applicants.
44 The 4 Board of Trade Journal ’ will be the principal medium through
“ which intelligence collected by the Branch and intended for general infor-44
mation will be conveyed to the public. The journal, which has up to the
14 present been issued monthly at the price of 0d. is now issued weekly at the
44 price of 1 d.
44 It is intended shortly to give effect to the recommendations of the
44 Committee referred to above in respect of the collection and exhibition of
44 samples, and the arrangements necessary to enable this to be done are now
44 under the consideration of the Board of Trade.”
