AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 29, 4 January 1926, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS

TRADE COMMISSIONER’S REPORT

LONDON, Dec. 30. In his report on the trade situation in Australia, Mr R. W. Dalton, Trade Commissioner for Australia, states that it will bo necessary soon, even if not now, to find an export outlet for certain sections. Meanwhile, somo of the industries established in Australia have been signally successful, and have proved themselves more than able to compete with outside firms. Regarding the import trade, Mr Dalton points out that while the United Kingdom’s share during the last two years showed a serious decline, the two United States’ share had considerably increased, largely due to motor cars. It may fairly bo said that the United Kingdom’s decline was not duo to any relaxation of effort on tho part of British firms, but rather to Australia’s protectionist policy, which naturally affects Britain’s trado more seriously than that of any other country, because Britain is Australia’s chief supplier, and tho chief competitor in her industries. Tho obvious inference is that it will be nocossary for British firms to put forward increased efforts to secure tho maximum possible of . tho trado that Australia takes from overseas.

Mr Dalton urged British firms to visit Australia to see for themselves tho possibilities of developing trade, and also to take groat care in appointing agents, for, though Australia is at E resent passing through a period of igh protection policies, this should not, nor will not, rule out the possibility of the development of British trade. Mr Dalton expresses the opinion that the new preference regulation will provo beneficial on the whole, but it will bear hardly on the legitimate British industries which trade with Australia, and it may also be expected to eliminate from preference many of the essentially foreign goods which formerly participated. Mr Dalton declares that it is a definite belief of the Australian producers that they have hitherto been overmuch at the mercy of London buyers and speculators, owing to the fact that haphazard shipping leads to a glut of the market. Producers generally are sanguine that the pooling system will bring a great improvement, including more accurate and constant knowledge of tho conditions of stocks in England.—A. and N.Z. cable. RETURN FOR PREFERENCE. LONDON, Jec. 31. Tho Daily Mail states that everyone will bo sorry to hear that there is a feeling of soreness in Dominion quarters at the delay of the British Government in carying out the recommendations of the Imperial Economic Committee. It hopes the Government will immediately carry out tho plans and thus make a practical return for the preference most of the Dominions grant our produce.—A. and N.Z. cable.