“BARREN DISCUSSIONS.”

Evening Star, Issue 21709, 2 May 1934, Page 12

“BARREN DISCUSSIONS.”

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —In your article on the above yon quoto Mr Stevens, the Canadian Trade Commissioner in Australia, as haying said, when speaking about the British quota scheme, “We are faced with curtailment of our exports, which is going to affect our national economy seriously.” You also report the ‘ Sydney Morning Herald,’ when dealing with the same question, as having said: “ At this stage in our history any restriction upon our agricultural development would bo serious.” After reading those two comments and studying our own primary industry conditions, it is quite obvious the economic outlook for the future is indeed black, but when one considers the state of affairs one is forced to conclude it is both tragic and Gilbertian. Here wo have in practically every country in the Empire primary producers with goods in the shape of foodstuffs that they cannot get rid of, while at the

same time there are millions underfed, under-nourished, and extremely desolate. Seventy per cent, of the world’s population who are engaged in agriculture are faced with ruin because they have a super-abundant supply of goods, while others needing the goods are faced with slow starvation because they cannot get the goods. Yes, the position is both Gilbertian and tragic. — I am, etc., W. Dickinson. May 1.