RUSSIAN BUTTER

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVI, Issue 3442, 12 March 1932, Page 6

RUSSIAN BUTTER

DRASTIC ACTION NEEDED. AN AUTHORITATIVE STATEMENT. The British Empire is at the most critical period of its history, and a great deal depends upon the result of the Ottawa Conference, said Sir Thomas Clement, K.8.E., acting chairman of the Food Products Committee of the Empire Marketing Beard, on his arrival on February 8 in Melbourne in the Orient liner Orontes. Sir Thomas is making a tour of Australia, during which he is conferring with representatives of the dairying industry, so that recommendations may be made to improve the quality and adapt supplies to meet British trade requirements..

Sir Thomas is a practical farmer and has two holdings in Scotland, where he conducts mixed farming, This is his fourth visit to Australia, the first being in 1894, and the last three years ago, comments the Melbourne Age. Sir Thomas said that the title “Em-

pire Marketing Board” was rather a misnomer. The title should have been “Empire Development Board.” The financial stringency in Great Britain has necessitated a curtailment of the grant to the Board, and its activities were temporarily restricted, but it was hoped that when things were brighter more money would be available to carry o'n the work. “The 10 per cent, perference given to Empire products is a gratifying move, but it is not sufficient to cope with the Russian menace,” he said. “Drastic steps will have to be taken to safeguard the producers of all agricultural products against Russia, where things are being produced on a non-economic basis.

Dominions Publicity. “Fortunately, the foundation of the work of the Empire Marketing Board has been laid by the extensive advertising which, although frequently criticised, has created a sentiment among all sections of the British people, who now demand Empire products from their shopkeepers. “This form of publicity is distinct from the various campaigns conducted by individual Dominions, which have had little effect in creating a real Empire sentiment. The British public are not concerned regarding the claims of any separate portion of the Empire, but they do desire that their custom shall benefit some of their kith and kin in the overseas Dominions.”