EMPIRE COTTON

Gisborne Times, Volume LX, Issue 9723, 5 June 1924, Page 5

EMPIRE COTTON

NOW FIRMLY ESTABLISHED

TRANSPORT STILL REMAINS PROBLEM.

IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE suggested.

jJiiitc'l Press Assoeia' 'on—Copyright. (Received June 4, 7.15 p.m.) LONDON, June 4. Sir Frank Forbes Adams, at the annual mooting of the'British Cotton Growing Association at Manchester, said cotton growing within the' Empire was firmly established, but the essential problem of transport remained. If wo must wait until the colonies have sufficient funds from their own revenues to build their own railways, progress’ would be naturally slower than if the Imperial Government guaranteed funds for immediate construction. It was stated an effort will be made to move the Imperial Government in the matter. — A. .and N.Z.C.A.

QUEENSLAND SUPPLIES

PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN IN LANCASHIRE.

AUSTRALIAN STATE OUT TO REPLACE EGYPT. LONDON, June 3. Mr. Elphinstone completed an extensive tour of Lancashire, investigating the cotton outlook. He interviewed most of the leading operators, arid inspected many mills. lie addressed many meetings. Everywhere he made it clear that Queensland did not hope to compete with the American market with cotton grown by black labor, but believed that by gi eater intelligence and more up-to-date methods, Queensland cotton, equal in quality to Egyptian, could be produced. Ho would not be surprised jf Egypt, in view of her political situation. failed Lancashire as a big supplier of high-class cotton. If that happened' it was hoped Queensland would take its place. He missed no opportunity of suggesting that Lancashire should concentrate attention on high quality cotton, bearing in mind Queensland’s efforts to keep the standard high. At a meeting of the Oldham Chamber of Commerce, at which he delivered in address,* the question of ratooning cotton independently was raised. A resolution was unanimously passed, strongly approving of the Queensland Government prohibiting ratooning as being in the best interests of cotton planters. Mr. Elphinstone found the general trade opinion was that ratooned cotton was distinctly shorter, and weaker in staple, wastier, and .harsher than annual cotton.- It also contained a large number of short, immature fibres, the delects becoming more pronounced in succeeding years. —A. and N.Z.C.’A.