THE TRADE COMMISSION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 281, 19 April 1913, Page 5

THE TRADE COMMISSION.

A ROUSING IMPERIAL SPEECH.

DEFENCE RESPONSIBILITIES,

By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Sydney, April IS.

The Government entertained the Imperial Trade Commissioners at a harbor picnic, and the Million Club entertained them at a luncheon.

Mr. Arthur Kidman, speaking at the latter entertainment, said that Australian and Canadian trade had developed to extensive proportions, but unfortunately Australia, not having a reciprocal 1 tariff with Canada, had recently lost much of it to New Zealand, and as the result the Federal Government was witlulrawin the subsidy to the Can-adian-Australian Shipping Company. New Zealand had picked up a large export trade which had been solely developed by Australian shippers, i Mr. Foster (Canada), in a rousing Imperial speech, declared that lie liked the phrase "John Bull & Co." It was a mighty big concern. The Empire, with its illimitable possibilities and capabilities, was absolutely sufficient unto its own wants. It was written in ithe book of fate, in the decrees of the world, that we must stand together united. lie declared that Mr. Allen's visit to London would undoubtedly prove very important. He trusted that out of it might i come an immediate advance towards the | practical recognition of common respon- ! nihility in defence matters, ami the establishment of a permanent joint policy to give it effect. f. AUSTRALIAN WOOL Received 18, 11.55 p.m. \ Sydney, April IS. . At the Empire Commission Mr. F. W. I Hughes, managing director of a wool- j combing firm, endeavored to show that j it was inevitable that England would lose her trade by supplying the eastern markets with wooltops made of Australian wool. Secondly, it was to the interest of the Empire that the Eastern markets should be supplied with tops made in Australia, rather than with tops made in Japan from imported Australian wool; Thirdly, it was to the interest of the Empire that manufacturing wool into tops and yarn should be carried out in Australia rather than in the present large proportion in European coun- ' tries when this was possible through a reduction in the disparity of the cost of labor. ' Fourthly, it was inevitable that Australia in the near future would manufacture an increasing quantity of local wool into cloth for local requirements. Mr. Hughes added that if the Commission came to these conclusions it was very probable its influence could be used to very great advantage in enabling an understanding to be reached in order that urgently necessary reforms might be carried out in connection with contracts with Japanese manufacturers for the supply of tops and yarn, and secondly bringing together the British manufacturers and Australian firms with a view to co-operation and providing for the expansion of woollen manufacturing in Australian. Mr. Hughes said that it might be advisable for Bradford makers to come here and manufacture tops. The Japanese would never tolerate having wool sent from Australia to England and then shipped back to Japan in the form of tops. The Japanese would either buy the raw material here and make tops themselves, or buy' top* from Australia.