LAND OF SUNSHINE AND HONEY

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 135, 4 March 1929, Page 11

LAND OF SUNSHINE AND HONEY

BUT DOMINATED BY TRADE UNIONS SIR ARTHUR DUCKHAM ON AUSTRALIA - t * (Rec. March 3, 5.5 p.m.) Vancouver, March 1. Speaking at a gathering at the Canadian Club, Sir Arthur Duckham stated that the industrial conference recently held in Australia may lead to a solution of many economic difficulties in the Commonwealth. With him as a guest was Sir Alfred Young. Chief Justice of Fiji. Sir Arthur Duckworth described Australia as a land of sunshine and honey where the cost of production was high and the trade unions dominated the situation. Farmers in the great irrigated areas had to face high labour costs and high transportation costs. The marketing of produce was a grave problem. His trip bad changed many pre-conceived ideas—Britons sometimes doubted if the effort to trade with Australia was worth while. He was convinced of the importance of developing trade and the fact that Australia must be kept for the British race. A proper investigation of tariffs would result in great benefit to Australia. He expressed the hope that the matter would be considered at the next Empire Conference and a way found in which all parts of the Empire can trade within the Empire.