THE IMPERIAL PRODUCE COMMANDEER

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2940, 28 November 1916, Page 5

THE IMPERIAL PRODUCE COMMANDEER

REPLY TO OVERSEAS CRITICS Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. London, November 26. With reference to statements in Australian and New Zealand newspapers that the Imperial Government controls the producers of the United Kingdom, while controlling prices' of Overseas produce marketed in Great Britain, prominent authorities connected with the handling of produce who have been interviewed say that the statements are fallacious, as the exportable commerce of the United Kingdom consists chiefly of machinery and manufactured goods, which the Government corftrols to even greater extent than colonial produce. Moreover, the Government now controls the British agricultural and dairying industries. With, reference to the complaints of insufficient refrigerated tonnage in the Australian and New Zealand trade, and tlie suggestions for' transfer of some vessels from the River Plate for use of Australaisian shippers, the authorities point out that such transfer is impossible, as the River Plate steamers are built for this special trade, and mostly are absolutely unsuitable for the Australian trade. Moreover, the number of vessels in the River Plate trade is inadequate, and every, month considerable quantities of beef which the Army urgently needs cannot he shipped because steamers are not available. Mutton can be used for the troops in England, and to a, certain extent in France, but beef is absolutely neccssary for the troops at the front. The Government might have concentrated refrigerated tonnage for bringing beef from South America. If it had done so it would have withdrawn a considerable portion of the tonnage engaged in the Australian _ trade, but it refrained in order to maintain the export trade of Australia and New Zealand. though at_ great inconvenience and cost. As an illustration, beef costs about half the price of cheese, and it can be brought from the R.iver Plato in half tho time it takes to convev choese to England from Australia. Therefore it would seem unreasonable that the dairying industries should consider themselves unfairly treated, especially, as refrigerated freights are very moderate, particularly when compared with freights ruling for Australian wheat. THE WOOLIQMMANDEER By Telegraph-TVes!! A--or'i tion-{'opy- ;^li t Melbourne, November 27. Negotiations are proceeding with the British Government to acquire the whole of the Australian : and New Zealand wool clips for the present season. It is understood that the amount involved in Australia is between thirty and forty millions. Th© Government has practically completed now the details of the wool purchase scheme. The rates to be paid to brokers and to the buyers (for valuing the wool) have been agreed upon, but they we still subject to ratification by the Imperial Government.