COTTON-GROWING

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 125, 27 May 1920, Page 7

COTTON-GROWING

THF QUEENSLAND PROJECT.

(tMTED PRESS ASSOCIATION.— COPYRIGHT.j

(Australian-new Zealand cable association.)

(Received May 27, 9.30 a.m.)

LONDON, 26th May.

The Hon. J. M'Bwan Hunter, AgentGeneral for Queensland, has not-yet received Manchester's suggestion regarding, cotton-growing in Queensland, and is unable to discuns the project until there has been a further meeting with the cotton-growers. He regards the price as satisfactory, but expressed surprise at' the limited scope of the proposed experiment.

Cotton-growing in Queensland has been the- subject of correspondence for some months. Lancashire is particularly anxious to extend the sources of supply of .raw cotton, in view of the increasing demands on the American and Egyptian crops. It is pointed out that a big enterprise in cotton-growing in connection with soldiers' settlements and otherwise is only justified if the present high prices of cotton continued, or the Lancashire brokers and .spinners and others' guaran : teed to purchase the, output at a fixed price over a period of years. Experiments conducted by the Imperial Institute and Manchester Chamber of Commerce showed that' Queensland cotton was a good marketable qua-lity.

Mr. Theodore, Premier of Queensland, in an interview in London with' the representative of Sydney Sun, said that he was fully satisfied with Mr. Hunter's cotton negotiations. "Whether or not the cottonmen arrange for a guarantee," said Mr. Theodore, "the Queensland Government will proceed with the scheme. I ani convinced that the high prices will continue sufficiently to allow th& industry to be stabilised. My inquiries in America showed me that. Queensland labour can compete profitably against the cheap American and other labour."