IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 6, 2 October 1926, Page 9

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

WORK OF ECONOMIC COMMITTEE

IMPROVEMENT OF SALES OF DOMINION

PRODUCE

PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN PLANNED

In connection with the work of the Imperial Economic Committee, a publicity campaign is about to be opened by the Marketing Board in an endeavour to induce British consumers to give a voluntary preference to the Dominions. This, it is hoped, will result in a marked increase in the sales of the Dominions’ products.

gr Trlkgraib.—Pßbss association

London. September 30. “’the future constitution and work of the Imperial Economic Committee will be discussed at

lmperial Coll- || ference, which will | decide any changes i necessary in its orIgamsatioii,” said | Mr. L: Amery, Sec- | retary of State for | Dominions and Coli onies, in a conferI ence with represen- | tatives of newspapI ers - B “The Imperial | Government is unI able to pledge the B policy of future Governments, but as long as we are in

office the £1,000,000 grant will continue. The amount not spent in any single vear accumulates for subsequent expenditure. Onlv £500,000 was voted in 1926, because it was desirable,, first of all, to survev the whole field, discover facts and devise plans before the Marketing Board spent big sums, perhaps, ineffectually.

“The board shortly will open a publicity campaign to induce the British consumer to give a voluntary preference to the Dominions, resulting in an expansion of the sales of Dominion produce and causing an improvement similar to that which followed the Wembley Exhibition.

“The board has appointed a publicity sub-committee, among whom are experts in their own spheres, including Mr. Ormsbv-Gore, Lord Burnham, Sir Thomas Allen, Sir Woodman Burbidge, Sir William Clark. Sir William Furse; also Mr W. S. Crawford, advertising agent; Mr. Frank Pick, assistant managing director of the London underground railways and omnibuses. Publicity embraces advertisements and articles in newspapers; specially designed posters throughout Britain; lectures, broadcast talks, film exhibitions, regular bulletins on the ffimpire issued to schools.

“The board has already begun research work, including research into the malnutrition of flocks and herds, which, hitherto confined to Scotland and South Africa, wilt be extended to other parts of the Empire. The Iward is also considering a method for the dissemination of tlie results of scientific research in the Dominions. The board is making grants for research into marketing methods; also producers’ organisations for the exportation of pedigree stock from Britain. “It has devoted £35,000 to the Imperial Bureau of Entomology to investigate insect pests which annually destroy 10 per cent, of the world’s crops. It is also using trade exhibitions to display Empire foodstuffs, awarding £lOOO in prizes and three silver cups

for the best shop window display m London in connection with the Imperial Fruit Show.”

DOMINIONS AND FREE TRADE LORD STANLEY TAKEN TO TASK (Rec. October 1, 10.4(1 p.m.) London, September 30. The “Morning Post’’ describes Lord Stanley’s phrase regarding the Dominions’ Premiers and free trade as offensive, fatuous and discourteous, and inaccurate. The “Daily News” condemns it as a gratuitous gross discourtesy, and adds: “Whether free traders or not. we want to do as much trade as we can with Australia on the best possible terms.

[Lord Stanley of Alderley, presiding at the National Free Trade Congress at Manchester, said: “We want to make it blear to the Dominion Premiers, who will shortly be our guests, that Britain is determined that the system under which it has prospered will not be materially changed.]

OPINIONS OF WOMEN FRANCHISE, MIGRATION AND OTHER TOPICS London, September 30. “South Africa is a black spot as regards the status of women,” said Miss Hidden, addressing the British Commonwealth League. “Women are forced to sit at the windows on polling davs and watch black men going to vote and thereby helping to make the laws under which women must live.” She urged that the South African Premier, General Hertzog, when attending the Imperial Conference, should be heckled and worried in all possible wavs for the purpose of persuading him of the necessity for enfranchising women.

Mrs. Corbett Ashby, who presided, declared that the opinions of women throughout the Empire, regarding migration and nationality, ought to be represented at the Imperial Conference. She suggested that tlie league should arrange a deputation to the Empire Premiers.

The meeting passed a resolution urging the Imperial Conference to consider the question of remedying the injustice where women were disenfranchised, as in South Africa or partially enfranchised as in Britain; also that the Conference should accept arbitration as a method of settling international disputes.