ADVICE TO AUSTRALASIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15520, 30 January 1914, Page 7

ADVICE TO AUSTRALASIA.

>- COTTON IS QUEENSEAKLF-^ MALTESE AS LABOURERS. J, , < — > C -.P.--. .FAVOURABLE PROSPECTS. ■' LONDON SHIPPING: RING*'IMPORTERS HE^ESS^J'"- • BRANDING ■ OF . 'SIDES. : T':. By Telegraph.— Association—Copyrighl. .;. i: ■: ."" London, January 29. The report on Australasia issued as the result of the investigations, .of. the- Empire Trade ? Commission , denies ! that experience ;has shown that cotton can be ; successfully ! grown only by black labour. On the - contrary, 75 . per - cent.-- ofcrthe labour in : Texas is white, and it is • possible that the Maltese' I 'woi^d'Jur-/ ; nish just the type of labour required.. for cotton-growing -in -Ausfcralia." Evidence of the quality of the Aus- ~ tralian cotton was such lis to justify - the expectation that a higher price would, be secured. than by most cotton countries.- ,f.i'C". j t,, While admitting . that 'hides - are ; • damaged ,by branding the .animals, - the report' says the natural' remedy.' is to differentiate between the price -• ' of hides branded as the: tanners/sag-£ ' gest, and those branded as at-pre--sent.-*'. - - Outward Bills of Lading. . The commission cklls attention to - complaints regarding the outward bills of lading as being' out of date. They are unduly complicated, and v.favour, the ship owners against :tha- , customers. - Nevertheless,- there, is, - ~- • evidence that many of the i compahi#& have granted redress which, they are:: not legally compelled to 'giieSrz:~j : ;4- t f | J > The ■ evidence of L the-- strength lotc. *, • the shipping ring in Londbn is so: ; great,- says the commission, that.the combined action of the importers Is. of little avail. _ | H y The | report also ' draws attention:' to the possibility:. of amending ,thev ; United Kingdom ! law in .order to | bring it in line with the AustralUn ; . - ■ Sea Carriage Act of -1914;; - - ; * Food and Drugs. " r Y I ;V: VJt PlSPilifli t-8• The report urges uraJq"araty^in 7 the-[ | g|| legislation, and regulations .regard-' ing food and drugs, ■'"V" I Australasia's. agriculturaM. Jmrie-; ; ral,:- and forestry resources' Wilb -be--dealt with in the final report, whichi: • .-J i' will also refer to the -inquiries rebetter facilities for handling; ; meaij'- : and fruit, upon which investigation is proceeding. ; ; f' 1 The: commissioners. are. also ~ makI ing further inquiries xegarding | inter-Imperial ahd-jthe- - ' desirability; of; jlm*.' IS vpetii'l r •• § || | * SYDNEY PRESS COMMENT. V ".FAITHEUL ' pESCEIPnOXS." C. " ; By Telegraph— 6stj - • i 'i\ :l (Beoeived >: January? .&30p.m.)'- - • ■■ Stdnet,. January' 29/ ; - ; The Morning Herald consider • that the-' commission bad gathered much valuable ; information. If ths entire report be on. | the same efficient lines as the extracts, the : I document must be treated seriously -by the authorities.. Had tlje; eoimmissione™ been in close touch with -Australian in-' - : ternal affairs for years, _ihey could not; k have described more faithfully- the plieno- ' ' men ain the industrial 'and commercial life. , The Daily Telegraph, considers the report less than what was looted for, and " says that in some instances it displays a , lack of information. .-^ 'i j r t t ' i Leading business men discussing the' re•port are mostly of the- opinion i that.-the I mail service is speedy'enough; "It is agreed on: all hands ; that ? the present cablegram rates are far too high. „ '' 1 | 'Mr.' Wesche, the. general manager of the " \ •Peninsular and Oriental Steam" Navigation - s Company considers that the. present .51-day ■mail service could be shortened .to a cer-. tain: ; extent, but f only if an extra' subsidy % isf was | paid :'for.. increased speed iind 'the - [ . bunker capacity needed. •. This + extra • bunker space, would curtail tie • space avail- ; able for cargo. , " ... | The reduction of the Australian terminal rates and the ,wider employment of the wireless • telegraphy, are - amongst the , • suggestions - for reducing cablegram ■