TRADE, BOARD OF, a department of government more correctly designated "the lords of the committee of her majesty's privy council appointed for the consideration of all matters relating to trade and foreign plantations." In 1660, Charles II. created two sep arate councils for trade and for foreign plantations, which, in 1672, were consolidated into one. The board of trade and plantations, after being abolished in 1675, reappointed in 1695, and passing through various modifications, was again abolished in 1782, when its duties were transferred to the secretary of state in so far as regarded the management of the colonies, and to a committee of privy-council as regarded the other business. In 1780 the presently existing department was established by order in council, being a per manent committee of privy-council for the consideration of all matters relating to trade and the colonies. The board consists of a president and vice-president. together with the lord chancellor, the archbishop of Canterbury, the first lord of the treasury, the principal secretaries of state, the chancellor of the exchequer, the speaker of the house of commons, the chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, the paymaster of the forces. the treasurer of the navy, the master of the mint, and such officers of state in Ireland as are privy-councilors iu England. Practically, none of the members of the board take part in its deliberations except the president and vice-president. The clerks of the council are ex officio secretaries of the board, but filch duties as such are per formed by two assistant secretaries.
The functions of the board of trade are partly of a ministerial, partly of a judicial kind, and have of late years been greatly enlarged by a variety of statutes. The board is charged with the general superintendence of all matters relating to the mercantile marine. It requires and considers reports made to its inspectors and other officers, and crders returns of various kinds regarding trade and navigation. In the exercise of a cer tain amount of control over marine boards, it is empowered to make regulations regard iag the examination and qualifications of applicants for the position of master or mate of passenger-sbips. Under 17 and 18 Vict. c. 104, it grants licenses to persons to engage or supply seamen or apprentices for merchant-ships, decides on claims for and investigates charges of misconduct and incompetency. In virtue of 14 and 15 Vict. c. 79, it appoints officers to inquire into and report on the condition of steam-vessels.
The supervision of railways and railway companies, both as to their original forma tion and their working, constitutes an important part of the duties of the board of trade. Railways were first subjected to government control by 3 and 4 Vict. c. 97, which con
ferred power on the board of trade to appoint inspectors of railways, to approve or dis allow by-laws, to require returns of traffic, and to decide disputes between connecting lines. Further powers were added by 5 and 0 Vict. c. 55. In 1840 the increrfse of these duties, arising from the rapid extension of railways, led to the transfer of this depart ment of the board of trade to a separate board, created exclusively for the management of railway business; but in 1851, this latter board was abolished, and its powers again transferred, by 14 and 15 Vict. c. 64, to the board of trade. Notices of applications for railway acts, with plans, are required to be deposited with the board before any bill can i.e introduced into parliament; and before any railway can be opened for traffic the per mission of the board must be obtained, on the report of an inspector. On the occurrence of an accident, notice must be given to the board, which sends an inspector to inquire into the circumstances, and, on his report, the board is empowered to take what steps are judged necessary for the security of the public.
Many matters relating to the interests of trade, which come before other departments, are referred to the board of trade for information or advice. Thus there are communications with the foreign office regarding the negotiation and working of com mercial treaties, and with the treasury regarding alterations in the customs.
A statistical department of the board was established in 1832. whose rrovince is to collect and publish tables containing classified information regarding the revenues pop ulation, commerce wealth, and moral and economical condition of the United Kingdom and its dependencies, to prepare a selection from the statistics of foreign countries, and a monthly account of trade and navigation. All applications made to the queen in council by companies or private persons for charters of incorporation are referred to the board of trade; and among the functions committed to it by statute arc the registra tion of joint-stock companies, and of copyright in designs. The board is empowered by several local and personal acts to control the proceedings of the commissioners for regulating the employment of coal-whippers, and the discharge of coal-laden vessels in the port of London. In 1853 the department of science m.d art, which owed its origin to suggestions made in the second report of the commissiouersfo• the exhibition of 1851, and was at first a department of the committee of the privy-council on education, was placed under the control of the board of trade; but in Feb., 1850. it was re-transferred, by an order in council, to the committee of the privy-council on education.