MR. BALDWIN’S SCHEME

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 75, 20 December 1924, Page 7

MR. BALDWIN’S SCHEME

TO AID DOMINION FOOD EXPORTERS . HUGE SCIENTIFIC COLD STORES ON THAMES BANKS DUTIES OF IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE A group of huge cold stores on the banks of the Thames, with the latest scientific equipment, is said to be the “king-pin” of the British Prime Minister’s scheme for aiding Dominion food exporters. The Government will not embark on any retailing enterprises nor interfere with shipping. (By Telegraph.—Press Association Coptright.

London, December 18.. A group of huge scientific cold stores on the banks of the Thames,, equipped with the latest machinery and defrosting devices, erected and financed by the British Government, is said to be the “king-pin” of MrBaldwin’s secret scheme on which a million is to be spent to aid the Dominion food exporters, who will be given preferential treatment as regards accommodation in the stores. Well-informed men estimate that the Government cold stores will be handling Dominion meat and fruit within a year. The newspapers are blaming Mr. Baldwin for his vagueness when announcing the scheme in the House of Commons. They say it, is now clear that Mr. Baldwin is faced by the need for enunciating a proposition which savours strongly of Socialism. The Government’s assistance to the Dominions will not end with the cold

stores. There will probably be established a board consisting of representatives of the producers and the consumers, to act in the closest touch with,, the Imperial Economic Committee; co-operating with the exporters to secure uniformity of grading and standardisation' of qualities, to coordinate transport facilities by land and sea, to investigate the possibilities of the development of existing and new sources of food supply within the Empire, and to examine possible methods of apnljXinig preferential treatment to Empire supplies, particularly in regard to marketing, finance, and transport. 1 The Imperial Economic Committee will act as a sort of vigilance association, to draw the attention of the Government -to any instances in which even a humble pound is spent on

“foreign food which might be produced in the Empire. It is learned that the Government will not embark on any retailing enterprises, nor interfere with shipping; but that it will leave the gate open for the Australian Government to use its own ships to cheapen rates and thus give Australian producers an additional preference-—Sydney ‘’Sun 1 ' Cable.’ HIGH COMMISSIONERS’ VIEWS AN INSINUATION REPUDIATED (Rec. December 19, 7.45 p.m.) London, December 18. Sir Joseph Cook and Sir James Allen, interviewed, cordially approved Mr. Baldwin’s proposals. Sir Joseph Cook repudiated Mr. Snowden’s insinuation that the proposed million vote was equivalent to a pension to the Dominions. Whatever form the Government _ proposed to assist Dominions goods, it was untrue to describe is as a pension. Mr. Baldwin’s proposals were a reciprocal gesture for which Australia was grateful. Sir James Allen expressed the opinion that if the Imperial Conference preference proposals were relegated to the waste basket it would inflict a serious blow on inter-imperial relations. Fortunately, Mr. Baldwin had retrieved the position. Referring to the million vote, Sir James Allen considered that that was a matter for Britain rather than the Domin-ions.—Aus.-N.Z- Cable Assn.