TRADE WITH BRITAIN.

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 144, 20 June 1928, Page 16

TRADE WITH BRITAIN.

"Theoretically, the Dominions could -absorb more than Britain's annual export of manufactures, valued at £600,000,000. In a year the Dominions import £900,000,000 worth of goods, of which approximately 70 per cent, is manufactured. .Actually Britain sells only. £300,000,000 worth of goods to the Dominions:" This rather arresting statistical statement is made by the Australian Country Party in a declaration supporting Empire shopping week. "The Commonwealth Statistician's trade figures for 1926-27 showed that imports into Great Britain are more than two-thirds foreign. Last year 30 per cent, of imports into Britain came from countries within the Empire, compared with 25 per cent, in 1913. Exports to Empire countries amounted to 46 per cent., compared with the pre-war percentage of 37. There is much more to be done. In 1926-27 Australian imports from Britain and' British possessions- fell to 54.61 per cent, from 56.47 per cent, in 1925-26. . . . Australia's' aim should be to become self-contained and self-reliant to as great an extent as possible, but Britain and the Dominions, by reciprocal trade, must gain immense advantages."