AUSTRALIA'S TRADE

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 31 December 1925, Page 5

AUSTRALIA'S TRADE

METALS AND WOOL. CONDITIONS REVIEWED ADVERSE FACTORS. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. (Received Dec. 31, 10.55 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 30. Mr Dalton, British Trad© Commissioner, in his annual report remarks: “The development of manufacturing industries by a system of high protection is intensified by a drift of the population to the cities, and will probably continue to do so. This aspect in Australia’s life has considerable interest and importance from an economic viewpoint, and must be taken into account in considering the organisation for the development of trade.” Regarding the suggestion for the control of wool, Mr Dalton says: “Despite the break in the market, probably a majority of the more conservative growers doubt the advisability of reinstituting schemes which are considered unnecessary and undesirable in ordinary peace times. The people are beginning to realise that there is a real possibility of the introduction of substitutes for wool, and it is time for wool values to stabilise at a level which will permit the growth of consumption and remove any desire to adopt substitutes which may ultimately become' serious competitors with wool.” Mr Dalton advocates that a delegation from Bradford should visit Australia to place before the growers Bradford’s real viewpoint and the desirability for stabilising values at as low a price as possible consistent with adequate returns to the growers and others concerned. “Australia’s most important industries are those connected with metals and textiles, in which there lias been rapid development, particularly in iron, steel and woollens. These had, and still have, to face very -.serious competition from imported goods, and con.seouently have been unable to work with the -success which should- be assured to them, and there has been persistent, requests for increased protection for these industries, which are likely to- be granted. A number of branch factories of British- firms, established in Australia, in .some outstanding cases have been unsuccessful, due partly t-o over capitalisation, high production cost-s. uncertainty of labour conditions, and the fact that the- home- market- did not prove big enough to absorb the products of the works, whose efficiency demands a considerable output.”—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.