EMPIRE TRADE

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 12 August 1925, Page 5

EMPIRE TRADE

FOOD PRODUCTION.

TO STIMULATE CONSUMPTION.

NATIONAL EFFORT DESIRED

BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION-COPYRIGHT LONDON, Aug. 10. The Imperial Economic Committee’s first report on the marketing of Empire foodstuffs declares that the time is ripe for a, national effort to stimulate the (onsumption of Empire produce in the United Kingdom. So far as. the State is concerned the scheme should rest-on (l) legal require _ ments with a view to the identification of Empire goods, and (2) financial assistance for education and publicity, which the committee regard as* mutually essential. The Merchandise Marks Bi'l at present before Parliament provides a* convenient basis for further legislation, which seems ne-cessary for the enforcement of the law in respect to marketing at the time of importation and labelling. The time of retail sale should, rest with one of the existing deoailments of the State. An executive commission should be formed on the model of the development and foiestry commissions for the purpose of supervising the expenditure of the annual grant from the British Parliament, and should be charged with the clutv of conducting a movement for trade in Emnire oroduce. The commission should''start ,by allocating about U sixty-five per cent, of the annual grant for the nromotion of trade in Empire W produce.'and about fifteen per cent, tor research The remaining twenty per cent should be reserved for certain other schemes, including th e promotion of fruit growing in the tropical portions of the Empiie and the carriage of pedigree stock from the United King dom and from the overseas parts or the Empire. In a letter to Sir H. J. Mackindei, chairman of the Economic Committee, the Prime Minister (Mr. Stanley Baldwin} promised the Government s fun and orompt consideration of the report. Tlie Times savs the Imperial Economic Committee’s report affords gratifving and tangible evidence of a definite process towards the great ideal of co-operation among all parts of the Empire. involving a trade po'icv for the benefit of the whole. It will be incuml)ent on the Dominions and colonies to see that th e Empire origin label becomes the guarantee of quality. The Daily .Mail says there is wo m-i herent reason why we should import «uc.h eno-mouis food supplies from oieion lands The larger the trade within the Empire the more prosperous and the safer the Empire will be.