PRIMARY PRODUCERS

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 267, 6 August 1932, Page 11

PRIMARY PRODUCERS

Marketing Board’s Work VALUE EMPHASISED Ottawa, Angust 4, A meeting of fifty representatives of Empire primary producers, over which Mr. D. Jones (New Zealand) presided, received and adopted the reports of sub-committees on commodities, meat, butter, fruit, wine, tobacco, and sugar, which had been presented to the Dominion delegations and In some Instances had already reached the British delegation. Mr. Nicholls (South Africa) moved, and Mr. Osborne (Australia) seconded, the following resolution: "We record our conviction that the Empire Marketing Board has rendered valuable service to scientific progress and orderly economic marketing of Empire agricultural products. We would regard the disappearance of the board as a calamity to Empire producers, and we trust that the Governments represented at Ottawa evolve a plan not only to ensure the maintenance of the board, but also to enable it to Increase its activities both in research and also in the commercialised realm, by creating the will to buy Empire products by means of advertising and propaganda.” The motion was carried unanimously. Mr. Leopold Amery and Mr. Forsyth, London manager of the New Zealand Meat Board, who are members of the Marketing Board, described the board’s recent activities, particularly those of the th'ree committees of publicity, research, and marketing. The resolution Is being submitted to the Conference with a view to a projected >'scusslon on whether the Marketing Board should not be absorbed Into the proposed body tentatively called the Imperial Economic General Staff with larger functions. The board was formed four or five years ago • when Mr. Stanley Baldwin allocated a million sterling to help Empire trade. The yearly cost has averaged £600,000. The question will arise whether Britain will continue to bear the expense and whether the Dominions will make contributions to the board’s research work in investigating soils, grasses, pests, and the carriage of fruit; and also organising “The Buy Empire” displays throughout Britain which are regarded as of inestimable value to the Dominions. ■ AUSTRALIA’S CASE Value of Trade to Britain EFFECT OF DEPRESSION Ottawa, August 4. During the Australian conversation with British Ministers, Mr. 8. M. Bruce said he was unable to give an estimate, in figures of the concessions Australia is offering Britain. The strength of Australia’s case lies in the record of her, purchases from Britain and the enormously increased trade assured as soon as her purchasing power returns. Australia at the height of her prosperity, bought £61,000,000 worth of goods yearly from Britain. This was reduced by the depression to. the neighbourhood of £20,000,000. Australia’s purchases from Britain jumped from £24,000,000 in 1907 to £61.000,000 in 1027, indicating the value of Australia’s trade, in prosperous times. During this period Australia greatly expanded her secondary industries. This industrial expansion did not prejudicially affect her purchases from Britain. Mr. Bruce submitted these figures to Britain In support of his strong contention that apart from the concessions Australia is now offering, Australian purchases from Britain will rise enormously with returning prosperity., Britain already had 80 to 90 per cent, of the Australian market for some goods. Similar opportunities will be available for other articles. The whole trouble is the serious fall of Australia’s purchasing power. '