RUSSIAN TRADE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21386, 14 July 1931, Page 8

RUSSIAN TRADE

MENACE TO AUSTRALIA MYSTERIOUS TIMBER SHIPMENT. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, June, 25. The mysterious arrival in, Sydney, in a British steamer, -of a shipment of Russian timber loaded at Vladivostock, has not yet been cleared up, -but it is regarded as further evidence of the menace of Soviet, trade. The Federal Government is inquiring into the shipment, but does not appear to have made much progress. The names of the im-/ porters have not been revealed, and it was at least six days after the arrival of the steamer before unloading operations commenced. Even then the timber was placed in bond. It is said be particularly suitable for box making. For some time Australia has been threatened with the importation of Russian oil and matches, but until the arrival of the timber cargo last week little notice was taken of the threats. The Government now realises that the danger is a very real one, and has set on foot extensive inquiries.. It is a coincidence that large quantities of up-to-date' commercial information about Soviet Russia have jus+. reached the Commonwealth Parliamentary Library, and a study of this emphasises how serious a menace to Australian and New Zealand trade Russia may become. Perhaps the most striking exhibit, sent from an authoritative source, is a large wall map. showing how the Soviet Five-year Plan has progressed. It showS how railways have been built, factories established for steel making, agricultural implement making, oil refining, and the utilisation of the country’s primary industries. It is claimed that Soviet Russia now produces chromium ore, pig iron, rolled iron, silver, gold, tungsten, mercury, copper, chemicals, electrical and steam machinery, textiles, cotton, woollen and hempen goods, sugar, tea, spirits, peat, vegetable oils, rubber articles, matches, building materials, glass, china, paper, asbestos, mica, tobacco, leather goods, linen, salt, and various kinds of grain. Figures are given -shelving that in 1931-32 the Union of the Soviet Republics will have 105,500,000 hectares of land under grain in the State, collective and individual farms. This is approximately 263,750,000 acres. Australia s area under grain—mostly wheat—varies from 10,500,000 acres to 17,000,000 acres. Australia’s wheat output would be almost insignificant alongside Russia’s. This point is brought out in a book by two Russian economists, “ Soviet Foreign Trade—Menace or Promise,” copies of which have also reached Australia. It. is claimed that the charges against Russia of dumping are fantastic. It is said that Russia sells her goods at the ruling world prices. Full credit is given to the work of foreign experts who have taught the Russians to embark on secondary industries. Another paper gives the news that in 1930 Russia was the world’s, best customer lor agricultural implements.