The Press Friday, June 1, 1917' Natural Resources of the Empire

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15916, 1 June 1917, Page 6

The Press Friday, June 1, 1917' Natural Resources of the Empire

Kot tho least interesting and important part, of tho Final Report of tho Dominions' Royal Commission is that devoted to tho conservation, and development of tho natural resources of tho Empire in future. Tho Commissioners urge that a full survey should bo made dividing tho necessary materials of trado and Commerce into three main categories: (1) Materials of which tho world's requirements aro mainly or .wholly produced within tho Empire. (2) Materials of which tho Empire's requirements are lpproximately equalled by Empire proluetion. (3) Materials of which tho world's requirements and with them thoso of the Empire are now mainly produced and controlled outside tho Empire. The war has opened our eyes in many respects, and notably in regard to the resources of tho Empire, and tho manner in which wo were allowing them to be filched from us. The Commissioners doubt whether it wj\s realised before tho war that tho Empire had substantially a monopoly of the world's production or distribution of, certain most valuablo commodities of commerce. Even if the fact were dimly recognised, no effort had been made by tho Govern? inonts of the Empire; individually or in co-operation, to uso these commodities •<) their commercial advantage. On the

ontrnry, as our readers are aware, wo illowed the control in some of the most important instances to pass into Geruan hands. Canada, tho Commissioners remind us produces much tho largest proportion of nickel, cobalt and asbestos, in conjunction with India, of mica. New Zenlnnd produces practically tho only supply of kauri gum and phormium fibre. The Union of South Africa has tho virtual monopoly of diamonds and ostrich feathers. India hus a monopoly of jute, whilst the "West African colonies yield tho major portion of the "world's supply of palm nuts and palm kernels, and the Eastern colonies of plantation rubber. Tho British Empire produces about 40 to 45 per cent, of tho world's total supply of wool. If merino wool only is taken tho proportion is much higher. Tho Empire also produces over GO per cent, of the -world's output of gold. To show how -wo-»have neglected to make use of these advantages jn tho past, it is necessary to quote only ono or two illustrations from tho Report. Although Canada is tho solo' producer of raw asbestftfi on a l»rao scale in the world,

tho United Kingdom has teen largely dependent on outside sources, especially

the United States, for manufac- j tured asbestos, and even Canada imported manufactured asbestos to the average value of £'<O.OCO a year. Similarly, although Canada produces about three-quarters of the world's supply of nickel, the refining of the metal was carried on entirely outside the Dominion. The discovery that a large part of the Canadian deposits was worked by a United Staies company, and the manufacture by the latter of nickel and nickel alloys, gave rise to considerable agitation in Canada after the outbreak of war. It is satisfactory to know that the Canadian Government took action to avoid dangers which might arise from foreign control of the use of nickel ores, and that measures have also been taken to secure the erection of relineries in the Dominion. Obviously this is the policy which ought to l>e developed and maintaine-d throughout tho Empire after the war is over. The Commissioners also point out that tho possession of a monopoly of this kind i 6 a valuable asset in commercial negotiations, and they refer to the use which tho Germans made of their monopoly of potash in their controversy with the United States in 1911. Tho second category referred to in tho Report —materials of which tho Empire's requirements aro approximately equalled by Empire production

—embraces many staple foodstuffs and commodities of which the production is widespread both in tho Empiro and elsewhere. In many cases the position is that whilst the Dominions aro selfsupporting the United Kingdom is not. Wheat, meat, butter, -wool, and cheese are examples of this kind. In connexion with tho meat supply, the Commissioners urgo that steps should be taken to cncouragfe tho shipment of pedigree stock from the United Kingdom to the Dominions. At the present timo tho United Kingdom oxports cattlo and sheep for breeding to the Argentine Republic in larger quantities than to all tho Dominions put togotlier. Under its mail contract with tho Union of South Africa, the Union Castlo Mail Steamship Company under takes to carry pedigree- stock freo of freight from tho Unitod Kingdom to South Africa. This provision has been attended with excellent results, and tho Commissioners "would like to sco similar clauses inserted in other mail contracts. ;They emphasiso the view that temporary measures of control will bo required on tho termination of tho war in connoxion with the meat supply, etc., from tho Dominions. Owing to tho dcTjletion of live stock resulting from the war, there will be a shortage of beef, mutton, and cheeso over a large part of the Continent of Europe, and "unless spocial action is taken, " there may bo a risk that Australian "and Now Zealand supplies will bo diverted." They believo, therefore, that it -would be sound, as a temporary measure, to continue tho policy of Government control of rcfrigerat-od space in vessels trading to tho United Kingdom from Australia and Xow Zealand. Wo do not finite follow the Commissioners here. There aro tho strongest reasons, of course, why, during the war, our meat supply should bo reserved for tho British Army and tho armies of tho Allies. But aftor the war is over, New Zealand producers certainlv hope that there will be opened up a market for their produce on the Continent of Europe among our Allies.

The third category—that of articles produced and oontrollcd outside tho Empire—covers too large a field to bo dealt with adequately on the present occasion. Wo may note, however, that the Commissioners emphasise the importance of developing the petroleum deposits within the Empire, and also of establishing thorough and co-ordinated systems of timber conservation and forest management. The -whole subject is of so much importance that wo may recur to it on some future occasion.