IMPERIAL RESOURCES

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 65, 19 March 1925, Page 4

IMPERIAL RESOURCES

The Imperial Economic Committee has at last taken off its coat with the intention of getting to practical work. Its first meeting has been held, and, according to a cable message to-day, the Imperial Government recognises the great importance of developing Imperial resources, and will assist to the utmost in that direction. The terms of reference, as was pointed out by Sir Halfdrd Mackinder, indicate that the chief competition with which the Committee was concerned was the supply of food in its many forms by foreign competitors. Mr. Baldwin and his Government will not have forgotten that the advent of the first Labour Government to power in Great Britain was attributable to the popular idea, correct or otherwise, that imported food was to be taxed, although it was expressly stated that meat, wheat and butter and cheese were not to be so dealt with. It is proposed by the Government to devote something in the vicinity of £1,000,000 for the preparation for tiud stimulation of the sale in Great Britain of products from the British Empire that are now being competed with by those from foreigu countries). Among thosi. avu moat, butter and cheese, fruits (greeu

and preserved), wheat and flour, tea, wines, and some other articles of lesser importance. Some differences of opinion are sure to arise over the details of the scheme, and most probably-producers in Great Britain itself will have something to say on the subject; but, as Sir Halford Mackinder has remarked, the principle of cooperation must apply as between the Mother Country and the rest of the Empire directly concerned. New Zealand is deeply interested, considering that its export trade in foodstuffs to Great Britain for 1924 amounted to £28,323,000; made up of dairy produce £18,700,000, meat £9,500,000, and fruit £123,000. The work of the Economic Committee will certainly be watched with the closest attention in this Dominion.