BRITAIN’S FOOD

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12017, 20 December 1924, Page 6

BRITAIN’S FOOD

IMPERIAL PREFERENCE SCHEME OUTLINED HUGE COLD STORES TO RE BUILT ON THAMES A COMMITTEE OF PRODUCERS ANB CONSUMERS TO CONTROL TRANSPORT AND MARKETING The Conservative Government’s plan for giving preferential treatment to products from the dominions is outlined in cables published to-day. Mr Baldwin, it is said, proposes the erection of huge cold stores in London, in which the dominions, will be givifn preference in accommodation': , In addition to the Imperial Economic Committee; the establishment of a board representing the dominion exporters and the British • consumers is proposed.

“BUY EMPIRE GOODS” KEYNOTE OF THE PROPOBAL 6TOISAGE,*BY GOVERNMENT. ‘'Sun” Cable.). V AdONDON, December 18The special correspondent of the Sydney ;‘Sun” learns that a group of huge scientific cold stores on the banks of the Thames, equipped with the latest machinery and defrosting devices, erected and financed by the British Government, is said to be the ‘lcing-pis” of Mr Baldwin’s secret scheme on which a million is to be spent to l aid the Dominion food exporters, wlp will be given preferential treatment as regards accommodation an the stores. Well-informed men estimate that the Government' cold stores will be handling Dominion meat and fruit within a year. The , newspapers are blaming Mr Baldwin for his vagueness when announcing the scheme in the House of Commons. Thev say it is now (dear that Mr- Baldwin is faced Jby the need for enunciating a t proposition which savours Strongly of Socialism. PLAN OP DEVELOPMENT. The Government's assistance to the /Dominions will not end with the cold stores. There will probably be estab-. lished a board consisting of representaJ tivea of the producers and the ooneuxuers, to act in the closest touch with the Imperial Economic Committee, cooperating with the exporters to secure uniformity in grading and standardisation of qualities, to coordinate transport facilities bv land and sea, to investigate the possibilities of the development of existing and new sources of food supply within the Empire, and to examine possible methods of applying preferential treatment to Empire

Supplies, particularly in regard to marketing, finance, and transport. NO STATE SHOPS. The Imperial Economic Committee will act ae a sort of vigilance association, tp.draw the attention of .the Government to/any, iinstance .in which .even' a humlfle pound is spent on foreign fppd which might be produced in die Empire. > ' It is learned * that the Government will not, embark on any retailing enterprises, nor interfere with shipping; but it will leave the cate open for the Australian Government to use its own ships to cheapen rates, and thus give Australian producers an additional preference. ■>. “BECIPBQIiAri/'ENTBBE' 1 ' HiGH! COMMISSIONERS’ VIEWS APPROVAL OF PLAN. ' Australian and N.Z Cable Association. (Received December 19, 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, December 18. Sir Joseph Cook and Sir James Allen; interviewed, cordially approved Mr Baldwin’s proposals. Sir Joseph (look repudiated Mr Philip Snowden’s insinuation that the proposed ' vote of £1,000,000 was equivalent to a pension to the : Dominions, and declared that whatever the form in which the Government proposed to assist the Dominions’ goods it was Untrue to describe it as a. pension. Mr Baldwin’s proposals amounted to a reciprocal gesture, for which Australia was grateful. Sir James Allen expressed the opinion that if the Imperial Conference’s preference propoealk were relegated to the waste-basket it would inflict a serious blow on inter-imperial relations. Fortunately, Mr Baldwin had retrieved the position. ’Referring to the vote of £1,000,000, Sir James he | considered that a matter for Britain rather than the {Dominions.