AUSTRALIA'S OPPORTUNITY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16021, 6 January 1923, Page 8

AUSTRALIA'S OPPORTUNITY.

IN COTTON INDUSTRY.

SYDNEY, Dec. 7.—With the permanent establishment in Sydney of the headquarters of the Australian Cotton Growing Association, formerly situated in London, ah important step has been taken to open the door to a new treass'uro store for the primary producers of this country.

Mr. Crompton Wood, leader of the Cotton Delegation which toured Australia, and Mr. Harold Parker, arc on their way back to England, but Mr. P. Harding, the delegation's secretary, will remain to assist Mr. Vaughan. Mr. L. C. Atkins, the Soudanese, cot-ton-growing expert, fins joined the association's stalf. Mr. Ashcroft the Australian member of the delegation, will remain in Australia.

Mr.. Vaughan's visit has reference also to the planting of cotton in'; Now South Wales'. Seed' has ■ been applied for to' sow nearly 8000 acres in this State—mostly in the Northern Rivers district and on the tablelands' to the north-west.

Good rains. in Queensland; at Dawson. Valley, ensure good planting conditions, he says. One hundred and forty acres arc to be planted in Queensland —exactly double last year's average. , Ginning plants have arrived, find the association is inishing on with the erection of buildings in various parts of the State. Tho work in New South Wales'is being held up pending final adjustments with the State Government. "•'■"', . ; MARKETING. ;' , Mr. Vaughan says that the past sea: son''s crop sold at from 275 to 300 points .above middling American cotton. The total .return was over £90,000. The price on the London market now is.l^d; ,; *Tho-cost of production in America, on'.account of the boll weevil pest," he "adds, "is stated to be 24.25 cents a pound of lint. Th'e'cost'in' Australia, making allowance for full payment for wages, has-been estimated to be only 18- cents, while the Australian yield is 0501 b. to the acre, against 5001 b. to the'acre in America.

"An effort is being made to secure a reduction of freight charges on cotton," says Mr. Vaughan. "The present charge of l|d a pound is regarded as .preposterous. v Cotton is an ideal cargo and should bo carried much cheaper." With refcrcncc/to the remarks of Mr. Robb (Canadian Minister for Trade and Commerce), concerning the market for cotton in- Australia, Mr. Vaughan says that Canada is a desirable market, and cait be reached more cheaply than England. Possibly the Federal Government might arrange'for goods manufactured in. Canada from Australian cotton. to receive the preference which it is proposed to establish. PREFERENCE. The establishments of this'preference has been criticised, on the ground that it might enable outside manufacturers to get a hold on tho market, and make it difficult for Australian Cotton manufacturers to get a-start. On this point Mr. ' Vaugliah says that outside manufacturers have held the local market all along, and the only difference that preference will mako will be to giye.. Australian cotton preference over foreign .cottomj