MISSING CHANCES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 222, 6 September 1929, Page 4

MISSING CHANCES

In the latest London newspaper files to hand special reference' is made to the third annual report that was issued a few weeks back by the Empire Marketing Board. The extracts are given from it afford fine testimony to the great development which, despite the interrpution of the war, has since the beginning of the century taken place in the productive capacity of various parts of the Empire, our own little Dominion included. The figures that are cited are such as to carry compete conviction, accompanied with something like astonishment, on this score, and to point very conclusively to the possibility of the Empire being made entirely self-supporting. It is to this end, to the end that the commonwealth of nations under the British flag may eventually supply one another with all they require, that the Empire Marketing Board is most anxious to extend its assistance. From what is said it would seem that it has found itself with ample funds at command for carrying out the activities in which it has so far engaged. It must not be thought, as perhaps the title of the organisation might suggest, that the Board confines itself to improving facilities for distribution of Empire products. On the contrary, it is as much as anything concerned with endeavours to increase not only the volume but also the variety of such products. It is prepared to assist in all manner of research and exploration that offers prospect of promoting that object. As the “Times” says in its comment on the report, "nothing is too big for the Board, and nothing is too insignificant, so long as it gives promise of fruitful results.” The question very naturally arises as to whether this country is taking anything like the fullest pos sible advantage of the aid to progress that is thus so spontaneously and invitingly volunteered. If so, then it must be in some very quiet and unostentations way, for the public hear very little about it. We understand, of course, that the Board has subsidised some of our scientific research institutions, but beyond this we know of nothing in the way of local effort in which its so cheerfully proffered assistance has been ineo'."?L The subject. ,at any rate, is one that obviously requires somo much greater publicity than has been accorded it, for it can scarcely cut, be thought that we may easily be missing fine opportunities tor ascertaining how we may advance our own interests while at tie same time serving the big Imperial purpose. Possibly, amid all the miserable petty wrangling, that is gong on in tho House, some member with more practical aims may be found to question the Government as to its relations with this and other Home organi sations willing and eager to lift us along. The least we can do is to let them know how they can help us.