SOAP EMBARGO

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 40, 16 August 1916, Page 10

SOAP EMBARGO

THE LATEST AUSTRALIAN PRO

HIBITION..

We have become qiAte accustomed to Governmental restrictions, for war reasons, as regards the import and export of- many things (writes The Post's- Sydney correspondent). No doubt we shall continue to have many experiences of this kind. At latest we have a decision by the Federal Executive Council that the importation of soap into Australia will be prohibited, excepting in cases where the specific permission of the Minister for Customs has been obtained. Fortunately, this does not mean that we will have to wash or shave without soap —a deprivation that might furnish excuse for not washing or shaving at all. There are in Australia manufactories which are capable, or ought to be capable, of supplying all local needs. We .are informed that one purpose is to prevent the dumping of American soap into Australia. Another is said to be to encourage the production of soap in Australia, to the end that the by-product, glycerine, which is a valuable constituent in the making of explosives, shall be available in as large quantities as possible. Thus a person otherwise disposed to grumble over having to do without his or her favourite brand of imported soap may have the comfort iof knowing that, although the locally manufactured soap chips the skin, that.is nothing compared to the damage being done to Huns by means of the by-product, glycerine.