IN AUSTRALIA

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXII, Issue 4642, 20 May 1938, Page 6

IN AUSTRALIA

SHIPS, CARS, 'PLANES. INDUSTRIES PLANNED. Migration of industries is an important part of the Commonwealth trade delegation's plans for the development of the Commonwealth's capacity to provide its own transport by air, land and sea, writes the London representative of the "Sydney Sun." The ultimate object is is to export widely to the Pacific and Indian Ocean regions. The Minister for Trade and Customs "(Mr. White) is keen to induce manufacturers to take advantage of the bonus and establish complete car factories on a large scale in Australia. He is optimistic, also, about the future of aircraft manufacture on a large scale. Ministers will discuss with the British Government the extension of the Commonwealth's role as maker of munitions for New Zealand and India and also the eventual provision of aircraft for Singapore, Iraq,, and, possibly, Egypt, if the need arises. He has pointed out that the principle involved in manufacturing in Canada is applicable to the Commonwealth.

Empire's Weakness. The expected rise in shipbuilding and other manufactures needing much steel is one of the reasons behind the Ministry's desire to conserve Australia's iron ore resources. One of the major aims of the totalitarian States is the possession of colonies, the Agent-General for Western Australia (Sir Hal Colebatch) writes in the "United Empire" magazine, and much the greatest obstacle to the full attainment of that ambition is Britain and the British Empire. The Empire's Achilles heel, he says, is the comparative emptiness of the Dominions, and the fact that scarcely any of them is increasing its British population. It is idle to argue that colonies would not be of great value to Italy and Germany. Even if it were true, it would not influence their attitude. There are all sorts of petty schemes in view, such as the transportation of a few hundred farm labourers, domestic servants, and skilled artisans, if any from these classes are available. Child migration on sound lines, . like the Fairbridge schools, is progressing, but too slowly. Alone, they cannot operate quickly enough to save the situation. It is brain, not brawn, that has fallen down on the job. Are there not men of wealth, enterprise andvision, he asks, prepared to take up the task of further developing the Dominions?