MARKET RESEARCH

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 150, 6 April 1933, Page 3

MARKET RESEARCH

SUPPORT FOR EMPIRE BOARD. NEW ZEALAND'S ATTITUDE. (Per Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 5. In spito of the statement published in England, and contained in a cablegram received to-day, it can be stated authoritatively that the New Zealand Government so far has given no consideration to changing its attitude toward the Empire Marketing Board in the immediate future. It is stated reliably, in view of the repeated assertions by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) that this Dominion considered that the work of the board was of the greatest benefit, that there is little likelihood of New Zealand desiring to see its functions ended, and an effort will probably be made to have its work continued. Important work was done at the Ottawa Conference in investigating the work of existing machinery for Imperial economic co-operation and a special committee made exhaustive inquiries into the work of the eleven main bodies at present functioning. It was arranged that after the Conference, this work should be" continued in England with the object of improving, if possible, the present methods of cooperation, and it is known that the future of the Empire Marketing Board has been under consideration during the last few weeks. Reporting to' the Ottawa Conference, the special committee recalled that the Empire Marketing Board was advisory to its chairman, the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, although in practice it has worked on lines scarcely distinguishable from those of a fully Imperial body. It consists of six exofficio and six other United Kingdom representatives, with eight represent-

atives of the Dominions, India, Southern Rhodesia, and the Colonies and Protectorates. v The costs of the board are borne at present by the Government of the United Kingdom. In this connection, the Ottawa. Committee commented: "It will be recalled that there were special reasons for this, and these reasons have been directly affected by the recent grant of extended preferences by the United Kingdom. In a number of cases grants made by the board have been matched from other sources.". The expenditure from the Empire Marketing Fund to March 31, 1933, was estimated at £3,300,000, and the board's resources for the last year were about £416,000. Its functions include the promotion and correlation of scientific research affecting agriculture and fisheries, market intelligence, market promotion, publicity and economic investigation. It has been suggested that in view of the altered economic- relations within the British Commonwealth since the Ottawa Conference, the Dominions should be prepared to contribute toward the board's expenses. As, however, the whole question of Empire economic co-operation may be revised, it is possible that another scheme may be suggested the Dominions which will do away with the necessity for the board in the future.