AUSTRALIA IN LONDON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21578, 24 August 1933, Page 9

AUSTRALIA IN LONDON

INTERESTS JEOPARDISED AGENTS-GENERAL PROTEST LONDON,, Aug. 17 Following the despatch by tho Australian Agents-General of stronglyworded reports to their respective Governments concerning tho lack of cooperation between themselves and the Commonwealth, Messrs. L. Bill (South Australia), J. Ferguson (New South Wales), W. Linton (Victoria), and Sir Hal Colebatch (Western Australia), held a further meeting to-day to consider tho position. This meeting arose primarily from , the announcement of tho re-assembling of tho Wheat Conference. Thp Agents-General, whoso first intimation of tho conference was the newspaper statement, say they have never been informed or consulted ; about such decisions,, in spite of them , being accredited and responsible representatives. They emphasise tho fact i that tho wheat question is vital to j tlioir respectivo States. The Agents-General instance the arrival of oranges by tho Orontes last week, declaring that they had not been informed, whereas good forward propaganda would have resulted in better prices being obtained, particularly when, having lost the New Zealand I market, Australia needed Britain's. It is claimed that Australian oranges aro superior to tho South African, but South Africa had propa- , ganda available. ( The Agents-General complairi also 1 that apple publicity arrived five weeks 1 after Mr. Bruce's official opening of 1 the season. They insist on their pro- .j per recognition, and declare that full co-operation between the Common- ] wealth and States and producers is ( essential to secure a continuity of ( markets in Britain, on which Aus- •, tralian producers aro almost entirely ( dependent. 1