DOMINIONS WARNED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 30 March 1938, Page 7

DOMINIONS WARNED

MARKET FOR PRIMARY PRODUCTS BRII AIN’S CAPACITY LIMITED REGULATION OF SUPPLIES URGED [Dnitad Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright/! SYDNEY. 29th March. Addressing the Empire Producers’ conference in Sydney to-day, Sig Reginald Dorman-Smith, M.P., leader of the British delegation, warned the Dominions that they could not continue to regard Britain as their only export market for primary products. He then set out to show how producers should attempt to relugate supplies to the United Kingdom in order to avert an economic collapse. He appealed to delegates to lay the foundation of an intelligent Empire agricultural policy, and said it should be their duty to get a clear picture of the ultimate limitation of the absorptive capacity of the British market. Realities must be faced. Saturation point in the Home market was much nearer than many imagined.

He emphasised that the Dominions, which were now developing secondary industries and thus diminishing their dependence upon the United Kingdom for manufactured goods, could not at the same time expect an ever-increas-ing share of the United Kingdom market for agricultural produce, nor could the Mother Country afford entirely to cut off her agricultural connection with such countries as Denmark. Holland and Argentina.

Sir Reginald mentioned that the eyes of the world were on that conference which he regarded as a great opportunit/ and a challenge to those nations

which were setting out to create a ne w world order

He suggested that the conference should inaugurate a series of Empire commodity councils to deal with such products as mutton, lamb. pork, dairy produce, eggs, apples, and pears, calling into collaboration the producers’ representatives of the principal foreign supplying companies.

The aim must be for a regulated market and maximum supplies to the consumer, consistent with a reasonable level of remuneration for the producer, he said.