The Hawera Star MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1924, MR BALDWIN’S SCHEME.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 22 December 1924, Page 4

The Hawera Star

MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1924, MR BALDWIN’S SCHEME.

Delivered every evening by 5 o'clock m Hawera Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawu, Eltham. Mangatokj, Kaponga, Asvaturu, Opunake. Otakeho, Manutahi, Alton, Hurleyville, Pat-ea, Waverley, Mokoia, Whakamara, Oharigai, Meremere, Fraser Road. and Ararata.

Great interest will be taken. by the peoples of the Dominions, especially Australia, and New- Zealand, in Mr Stanley Baldwin’s scheme for helping to build up inter-Empire trade. The cable messages have given only a brief outline of the proposal, but it is clear that Britain’s Prime Minister, who received a.temporary set-back when his party lost strength on the submission of the question of preference to the vote of the people, is determined, now that he has been returned with such a strong- part.y, to put into operation a definite scheme by which-preference to Empire-grown produce will be encouraged. The building of great stores on the Thames for the storage of produce by up-to-date scientific methods should help very materially the activities of representatives of the Dominions, who are striving to improve the marketing of foodstuffs, and 110 doubt producers will hail the news published on Friday setting out the plan. New- Zealand and Australia have for some time-past been giving .careful attention to the problems connected with the producing, shipping and marketing of foodstuffs, and by adopting the Control Board system it is hoped that benefits will be derived. Ei-om reports of the Boards controlling New Zealand dairy produce and meat it is learned that w.elcome improvements have been, effected and that savings have been made in costs.

Better arrangements with the shipown-

ers lmve also been arrived at, and during the last couple of years more extensive advertising of our produce has been done and encouragement given to the consumers of Britain to buy our butter and cheese and meat. But though progress lias been; made, the leading men in the industries know that more can be done, and the help which the British Government has decided to give should prove most welcome. With increasing competition from foreign countries New Zealand and Australian producers, who are at a disadvantage in being so fai from the markets, need to give the question of marketing their best attention. The quality of the produce has been raised to a high standard, and producers are keen to maintain it, which we have no doubt they will do without much difficulty. Up till the time the produce goes on board the ships there is not much to fear, but at the consuming end there is room for much improvement, and the prospects are that it will be effected with greater ease through the assistance which the British Government is about to give. Mr Baldwin will, no doubt, meet with . opposition, as the control schemes in Australia and New ‘Zealand have met with opposition, but if the £1,000,000 plan brings early success, the opposition will probabty be short-lived. In any case it is good to know that the British Government is keen to assist the Dominions, and the move should do much towards strengthening the bonds of Empire.