Exhibit A.

[Extract from Royal Commission on Shipping Rings, volume 2, pages 3-11m, inclusive.]

SUMMARY OF CONFERENCES AND REBATE SYSTEMS.

[NOTE. This summary is compiled from such information as was available to the commission; but as the personnel and conditions of conferences may vary from time to time, it is not necessarily either a complete or entirely correct record of conferences at the present date. The object of this appendix is to show the world-wide application of the system of conferences and deferred rebates.]

SOUTH AFRICAN OUTWARD CONFERENCE.

Area: The trade from ports in the United Kingdom and Continent to ports in South Africa (including Delagoa Bay).

Personnel: 1. Union Castle Mail Steamship Co. (Ltd.) (Donald Currie & Co.). 2. Bucknall Line (Sir J. Ellerman). 3. Clan Line Steamers (Ltd.) (Cayzer, Irvine & Co.). 4. Ellerman-Harrison Line (Ellerman Line, T. and J. Harrison). 5. Houston Line (R. P. Houston & Co.). 6. Natal Direct Line (Bullard, King & Co.). 7. Aberdeen Direct Line (John T. Rennie, Son & Co.). 8. German East African Line, from continental ports only. 9. German Australian Line, from continental ports only.

Conditions: Amount of rebate, 5 per cent; periods, six months for account and six months for deferment; by agreement of 27th January, 1898, it was agreed by the conference lines that shippers compelled, under the instructions of a client, to ship their goods by an opposition steamer, should not lose their right to rebates on their other shipments.

SOUTH AFRICAN HOMEWARD CONFERENCE.

Area: The trade from ports in South Africa (including Delagoa Bay) to ports in the United Kingdom and Continent, United States, and Canada. Personnel: 1. Union Castle Mail Steamship Co. (Ltd.). 2. Natal Direct Line (Bullard, King & Co.). 3. Aberdeen Direct Line (J. T. Rennie, Son & Co.).

Conditions: Similar to those in South African Outward Conference.

MINOR SOUTH AFRICAN CONFERENCES.

Norway and Sweden to South Africa-Personnel: 1. Swedish South African Line. 2. East Asiatic Line, of Copenhagen.

Conditions: Amount of rebate, 10 per cent; otherwise conditions practically the same as in main South African Conference.

United States to South Africa-Personnel: 1. Union and Clan Line (Union Castle Line, Clan Line). 2. American and African Line (Bucknall Line). 3. Prince Line (James Knott). 4. Houston Line (R. P. Houston & Co.). 5. Hansa Line, of Hamburg.

Conditions: No deferred rebate system since 1903.

South African Coastal Conference: 1. From Cape Colony, westward-Personnel: 1. Union Castle Mail Steamship Co. (Ltd.). 2. Bucknall Line (Ellerman). 3. Houston Line (R. P. Houston & Co.). 4. Natal Direct Line (Bullard, King & Co.). 5. Aberdeen Direct Line (J. T. Rennie, Son & Co.). 6. Deutsche Ost-Afrika Linie, of Hamburg. 7. Messrs. Thesen & Co., of Cape Town.

Conditions: Amount of rebate, 10 per cent; periods, six months for account and six months for deferment.

2. From Cape Colony, eastward-Personnel: 1. Union Castle Mail Steamship Co. (Ltd.). 2. Clan Line (Cayzer, Irvine & Co.). 3. Bucknall Line (Sir J. Ellerman). 4. Ellerman-Harrison Line (Ellerman Line, T. and J. Harrison). 5. Houston Line (R. P. Houston & Co.). 6. Natal Direct Line (Bullard, King & Co.). 7. Aberdeen Direct Line (J. T. Rennie, Son & Co.). 8. Deutsche OstAfrika Linie, of Hamburg. 9. Deutsche Australische Line, of Hamburg. 10. Messrs. Thesen & Co., of Cape Town.

Conditions: Amount of rebate, 10 per cent; periods, six months for account and six months for deferment.

75980-11-4

South Africa and Calcutta-Personnel: 1. Messrs. Bullard, King & Co. 2. British India Steam Navigation Co.

Conditions: Amount of rebate, 10 per cent; periods, six months for account and six months for deferment.

South Africa and Mauritius-Personnel: Union Castle Mail Steamship Co. (Ltd.).

Conditions: An extra rate of 5s. a ton on all shippers who refuse to bind themselves to exclusive shipments by conference line for a fixed period.

Area: The trade between the United Kingdom and the Continent and the west coast of Africa as far south as and including Tiger Bay.

[NOTE. According to the circular issued by the Woermann Line, continental ports west of Havre are not included in the conference area. This discrepancy was believed by Mr. Zochonis to be due to a clerical error.]

Personnel: 1. African Steamship Co. (Elder, Dempster & Co.). 2. British and African Steam Navigation Co. (Elder, Dempster & Co.). 3. Woermann Line, of Hamburg. 4. Hamburg-American Co., of Hamburg. Lines 1 and 2 are exclusively entitled to the trade from the United Kingdom to West Africa and have equal rights with 3 as regards sailings from German and other continental ports.

Conditions: Amount of rebate, 10 per cent; periods, six months for account and six months for deferment. Rebate on all shipments outward, but only on palm oil and palm kernels homeward; but loyalty is required on other goods. Rebate to be claimed within 12 months of shipment, and to be claimed by, and is only payable to, the principal, i. e., merchant who is the owner of the goods. Crown agents are treated as principals in respect of Government goods. Disloyalty on outward shipments involves forfeiture of rebates on homeward shipments and vice versa.

AUSTRALIAN CONFERENCE.

Area: The trade from ports in the United Kingdom to ports in New South Wales, Victoria, south Australia, west Australia, and Queensland, by steamers or sailing vessels.

8.

Personnel: 1. Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co. 2. Orient and Royal Mail Line. 3. Messageries Maritimes, of Paris. 4. Messrs. Anderson, Anderson & Co. 5. Messrs. Aitken, Lilburn & Co. (sailing-ship owners). 6. Messrs. Bethell, Gwyn & Co. 7. Messrs. Birt, Potter & Hughes (Ltd.). The Colonial Line (Tyser & Co.). 9. Messrs. Devitt & Moore. 10. Messrs. James Dowie & Co. 11. Messrs. Gracie, Beazley & Co. 12. Messrs. F. Green & Co. 13. Messrs. Houlder Bros. & Co. 14. Messrs. Ismay, Imrie & Co. (White Star Line). 15. Messrs. Thomas Law & Co. (sailing-ship owners). 16. Messrs. W. Lund & Sons (Blue Anchor Line). 17. Messrs. W. Marden & Co. 18. Messrs. McIlwraith, McEacharn & Co. 19. Messrs. Marwood & Robertson. 20. Messrs. W. Milburn & Co. (Milburn Line). 21. Messrs. G. Thompson & Co. (Aberdeen Line). 22. Messrs. Trinder, Anderson & Co. 23. West Australia Steam Navigation Co. 24. Ocean Steamship Co. (from Glasgow only). 25. British India Steam Navigation Co. (to Queensland only). 26. Australian Mutual Shipping Co. (to Melbourne, Sydney, and Newcastle, N. S. W., by sailing ships). The conference is known as the Australian Associated Owners and Brokers and is a conference of shipowners and loading brokers.

Conditions: Amount of rebate, 10 per cent; periods, six months for account and six months for deferment. Rebate to be claimed within three months of date on which it is due.

TASMANIAN CONFERENCE.

Area: The trade from the United Kingdom to Tasmania direct or via Australia, by steamers or sailing vessels.

Personnel: Messrs. F. Green & Co.; Messrs. Staley, Radford & Co.; the Australian Associated Owners and Brokers (via Australia in transit).

Conditions: Amount of rebate, 10 per cent; periods, six months for account and six months for deferment. Claim to be made within three months of date when rebate falls due.

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN CONFERENCE.

Area: The trade from ports in United Kingdom and Continent to Western Australia by steamers or sailing vessels.

Personnel: 1. Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co. 2. Orient and Royal Mail Line. 3. West Australian Steam Navigation Co. (only via Singapore). 4. Messrs. Trinder, Anderson & Co. 5. Messrs. Bethell, Gwyn & Co. 6. Messrs. W. Marden & Co. 7. Messrs. Anderson, Anderson & Co. 8. Messrs. Birt, Potter & Hughes (Ltd.). 9. Messrs. T. Law & Co. (from Glasgow only). 10. Messrs. J. Dowie & Co. (from Liverpool only). 11. Messrs. Ismay, Imrie & Co. (from Liverpool only). 12. Messrs. Marwood & Robertson (from Liverpool only). 13. Ocean Steamship Co. (only via Singapore). 14. Nord Deutscher Lloyd, of Bremen. 15. German Australian Co., of Hamburg. 16. Messrs. August Blumenthal and Rob. M. Sloman, jr., of Hamburg. 17. Messageries Maritimes. Nos. 14, 15, and 16 are allowed to ship from continental ports goods not manufactured in or shipped from the United Kingdom. Conditions: Amount of rebate, 10 per cent; periods, six months for account and six months for deferment. Claims to be presented within three months of date when rebate falls due.

AUSTRALIAN COASTAL CONFERENCE.

Conditions: Periods, six months for account and six months for deferment.

NEW ZEALAND CONFERENCE.

Area: From ports in the United Kingdom to New Zealand.

Personnel: 1. New Zealand Shipping Co. 2. Federal Steam Navigation Co. 3. Shire Line (Turnbull, Martin & Co.). 4. Tyser Line (Tyser & Co.). 5. Shaw, Savill & Albion Co. (Ltd.), of London. 6. Ismay, Imrie & Co. 7. Gracie, Beazley & Co.

Conditions: Amount of rebate, 1s. to 2s. 6d. per ton; periods, graduated allowances per ton are made on shipments amounting to 300 tons and over shipped during certain periods. Claims made up every six months, payable six months after.

FAR EAST OUTWARD CONFERENCE.

Area: The trade from United Kingdom, Belgium, and Holland to the Straits Settlements, Malay Peninsula, Siam, Philippine Islands, Hongkong, Kiaochow, Port Arthur, Wei-hai-wei, China, Japan (including Formosa), and Korea.

Personnel: 1. Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co. 2. Ocean Steamship Co. (Alfred Holt & Co.). 3. Messageries Maritimes, of Paris. 4. Nord Deutscher Lloyd, of Bremen. 5. Nippon Yusen Kaisha. 6. Glen Line (McGregor, Gow & Co.). 7. Shire Line (T. & J. Brocklebank (Ltd.), Royal Mail Stem Packet Co.). 8. Ben Line (William Thomson & Co.). 9. Shell Line. 10. Mutual Line (Alfred Holt & Co.) 11. Mogul Line (Gellatley, Hankay & Co.).

Claims to rebates are not invalidated by: 1. Shipments of pig iron from Middlesborough to Japan by the Hamburg-American Co. 2. Shipments from Middlesborough to Siam by the East Asiatic Co., of Copenhagen. 3. Shipments from Antwerp by the East Asiatic Co., of Copenhagen, and the Russian East Asiatic Steamship Co., of St. Petersburg. 4. Shipments from Antwerp, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam by the Hamburg-American Co. 5. Shipments from Antwerp to Port Arthur by the steamers of Eugen Cellier and H. W. Dieckmann, jr., of Hamburg. 6. Shipments from Rotterdam and Amsterdam by steamers of the Stoomvaart Maatschappij Nederland and cargo steamers of the Rotterdam Lloyd. 7. Shipments of general cargo by the Compania Transatlantica to the Straits Settlements and the Philippine Islands. 8. Shipments by any mail line under the auspices of the Belgian Government.

Conditions: Rebate, 5 per cent, payable at the end of 6 months, and 5 per cent at the end of 12 months. Claims to be sent in within 3 months from date on which payments become due and signed by the merchant owning the goods. On shipments from Birkenhead an extra rebate of 5 per cent is given at time of shipment.

FAR EAST HOMEWARD CONFERENCE.

Area: The trade from China, Hongkong, and Japan to Europe (except Black Sea ports) or to ports via Europe.

Personnel: 1. Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co. 2. Ocean Steamship Co. (Alfred Holt & Co.). 3. Messageries Maritimes, of Paris. 4. Nord Deutscher Lloyd, of Bremen. 5. Austrian Lloyd. 6. Navigazione Generale Italiana (Florio and Rubattino United Companies). 7. East Asiatic Co., of Copenhagen. 8. Russian East Asiatic Co., of St. Petersburg. 9. Nippon Yusen Kaisha. 10. Glen Line (McGregor, Gow & Co.). 11. Shire Line (T. & J. Brocklebank limited, Royal Mail Steam Packet Co.). 12. Ben Line (William Thomson & Co.). 13. Mutual Line (Alfred Holt & Co.). 14. Shell Line. 15. Hamburg-American Co., of Hamburg.

Conditions: Rebate, 10 per cent. Periods: Two six-monthly periods, 1st of May to 31st of October, and 1st of November to 30th of April. In respect of shipments during first period, one-half of the 10 per cent is paid on the following 1st of January, and one-half on the 1st of July. Rebates not payable on rice and oils from Japan, silk and treasure, the produce of the Eastern Archipelago transshipped at Hongkong, nor on any cargo the freight upon which may be arranged at a net rate. Rebates payable to shippers' London agent.

-STRAITS HOMEWARD CONFERENCE.

Area: The trade from Singapore, Penang, and the Malay Peninsula to Europe, except Baltic and Black Sea ports or ports via Europe.

Personnel: (a) In respect of all traffic: 1. Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co. 2. Ocean Steamship Co. (Alfred Holt & Co.). 3. Messageries Maritimes, of Paris. 4. Nord Deutcher-Lloyd, of Bremen. 5. Austrian Lloyd. 6. Navigazione Generale Italiana (Florio and Rubattino United Companies). 7. Compania Transatlantica, of Barcelona. 8. Nippon Yusen Kaisha. 9. Glen Line (McGregor, Gow & Co.). 10. Shire Line (T. & J. Brocklebank, limited; Royal Mail Steam Packet Co.). 11. Ben Line (William Thomson & Co.). 12. Mutual Line (Alfred Holt & Co.). 13. Shell Line. 14. Hamburg-American Co., of Hamburg. (b) In respect of traffic to continental ports of call or ports adjacent thereto: 15. German Australian Co., of Hamburg. 16. Rotterdam Lloyd, of Rotterdam. 17. Stoomvaart Maatschappij Nederland. 18. East Asiatic Co., of Copenhagen. 19. Russian East Asiatic Co., of St. Petersburg. 20. Russian Steam Navigation and Trading Co. 21. Compagnie Francaise de Navigation de Chargeurs Reunis, of Havre.

The agreements of 1897 and 1901:

Some of the above lines were parties to an agreement dated 23d of November, 1897, and all of them, together with the Compagnie des Vapeurs de Charge Francais, to an agreement dated 31st of October, 1901, made with certain merchant firms controlling about 60 per cent of the trade and called the freight agents, whereby, inter alia: (a) The freight agents agreed to discontinue chartering or shipping by sailing vessels or steamers to European ports (sailing vessels to Marseilles excepted) other than those belonging to the conference, and to do their best to prevent opposition and to maintain freights at a paying level. (b) The shipowners agreed that whenever the average rate of freight, loaded in the Straits during each of the six-monthly periods-January to June and July to December-amount to 25s. or over per scale ton, they would pay into a common fund 5 per cent on the gross amount of freight so loaded in conference steamers, to or via European ports, the said sum to be distributed by the freight agents among themselves and certain other firms giving entire support to the conference lines.

Conditions: Rebate: 10 per cent. Periods: Two six-monthly periods, 1st of January to 30th of June and 1st of July to 31st of December. Rebates on shipments in first period payable as to 5 per cent on 2d of September, provided that up to the 30th of June the shipper has confined his shipments to the conference lines, and 5 per cent on 2d of March in the following year, provided that up to the end of December the same condition has been observed. Payments in respect of the second period are made in a similar way on the 2d of March and 2d of September. No rebate payable on rice, hemp, tobacco, or treasure.

MINOR STRAITS CONFERENCE.

To New York-Area: The trade from Straits Settlements to New York. Personnel: 1. Indra Line (T. B. Royden, Liverpool). 2. Shewan, Tomes & Co., of Shanghai. 3. Barber Line, of New York. 4 Mogul Line (Gellatley, Hankey & Co.). 5. Prince Line (James Knott). 6. Dodwell's steamers. 7. Hamburg-American Line, of Hamburg. 8. Rederi Union A. Gesellschaft, of

Hamburg. 9. American and Oriental Line. 10. United States Line. 11. China and Japan Line. 12. Standard Oil Co., of New York.

Conditions: Rebate similar to that in Straits Homeward Conference.

To Australasia-Area: The trade from Singapore to Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and New Zealand.

Personnel: 1. British-India Steam Navigation Co. 2. Currie's Line (Archibald Currie & Co., of Melbourne). 3. Burns Line (Burns, Philip & Co. limited, of Sydney, New South Wayes). 4. Nord Deutscher Lloyd, of Bremen. 5. Union Steamship Co., of New Zealand.

Conditions: Rebates are paid, averaging 20 per cent.

To Bombay, Hongkong, and China-Personnel: 1. Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co. 2. Nippon Yusen Kaisha. 3. Austrian Lloyd. 4. Navigazione Generale Italiana, of Rome. 5. Messageries Maritimes, of Paris. Conditions: Rebate similar to that in Straits Homeward Conference.

To Calcutta-Personnel: 1. British India Steam Navigation Co. 2. Jardine Line. 3. Apcar Line (Apcar & Co., of Calcutta).

Conditions: Rebate: Twenty per cent on sago, sago flour, areca nuts, planks and scantlings, and 15 per cent on other articles.

From Ceylon-Personnel: 1. Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co. 2. Ocean Steam Navigation Co. (Alfred Holt & Co.). 3. British-India Steam Navigation Co. 4. Orient & Royal Mail Line. 5. Bibby Line (Bibby Bros. & Co.). 6. Nippon Yusen Kaisha. 7. Clan Line (Cayser, Irvine & Co.). 8. Holts Line (Alfred Holt & Co.). 9. Anchor Line, of Glasgow. 10. City Line (Ellerman Lines). 11. Harrison Line (T. & J. Harrison). 12. Ducal Line. 13. Brocklebank Line (T. & J. Brocklebank). 14. Glen Line (McGregor, Gow & Co.). 15. Shell Line. 16. Shire Line (T. & J. Brocklebank (Limited); Royal Mail Steam Packet Company). 17. Ben Line (William Thomson & Co.). 18. Messageries Maritimes, of Paris. 19. British-India Associated Steamers. 20. Queensland & China Mutual.

Conditions: Rebate: Ten per cent, deferred for six months.

PHILIPPINE HOMEWARD CONFERENCE.

Area: The trade in the Philippine Islands to Europe (Baltic and Black Sea ports excepted) or to ports via Europe.

Personnel: 1. Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co. 2. Ocean Steamship Co. (Alfred Holt & Co.). 3. Messageries Maritimes, of Paris. 4. Nord Deutscher Lloyd, of Bremen. 5. Compania Transatlantica, of Barcelona. 6. Nippon Yusen Kaisha. 7. Glen Line (McGregor, Gow & Co.). 8. Shire Line (T. & J. Brocklebank (Limited); Royal Mail Steam Packet Co.). 9. Ben Line (William Thomson & Co.). 10. Mutual Line (Alfred Holt & Co.). 11. Anglo-Saxon Line. 12. Hamburg-American Co., of Hamburg.

Conditions: Amount of rebate: Ten per cent. Periods: Two six-monthly periods, 1st of October to the 31st of March and 1st of April to 30th of September; in respect of shipments in first period, 5 per cent, payable on 1st of June and 5 per cent on 1st of December, conditional on loyalty during second period, and so on with rebates in respect of shipments in second period. No rebate on sugar or treasure.

JAVA OUTWARD CONFERENCE.

Area: The trade from Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and ports in the United Kingdom to ports in Java and the Dutch East Indies.

Personnel: 1. Ocean Steamship Co. (Limited) (Alfred Holt & Co.). 2. Nederland Steamship Co. 3. Rotterdam Lloyd, of Rotterdam. 4. German Australian Line, of Hamburg. The Nord Deutscher Lloyd, also by agreement, receives a share in the trade.

Conditions: Amount of rebate: Ten per cent. Periods: Six months for account, and three months for deferment.

INDIAN CONFERENCES.

Calcutta Outward Conference-Area: The trade from all ports in the United Kingdom and all ports on the Continent from Hamburg and Bremen to Cherbourg, to Calcutta.

Personnel: 1. Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co. 2. BritishIndia Steam Navigation Co. 3. City Line (Ellerman Lines). 4. Harrison

Line (T. & J. Harrison). 5. Clan Line (Cayser, Irvine & Co.). 6. Anchor Line,