A FARMING EMPIRE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17181, 26 October 1923, Page 1

A FARMING EMPIRE.

INDUSTRIAL BRITAIN’S HOPE. FREE TRADE IDEAL. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Boater’s Telegrams. (Received October 26, 10.20 a.m.) LONDON, October 25. Mr S. M. Bruce (Prime Minister of Australia) speaking at a dinner of the National Farmers* Union, urged the promotion of agriculture in Britain and the Dominions as the one hope for industrial Britain. He declared that the Dominions were agreed that Britain should be first a market for British agriculture, but they asked that thereafter the Dominions should have first claim for supplying the British market with commodities not procurable in Britain. The Dominions wanted markets in Britain, but if they were unsuccessful they would procure them elsewhere. The main cause of the trouble was the freedom of the British market to all competitors. While he was thankful for the Government’s offer of preference he hoped that the Government would do more. Mr Bruce roundly condemned the Russian wheat agreement, which he said was against the interests of the Dominions. He concluded: “Give Dominion agriculture a chance, and we will provide a market as good as Russia in each of the seven seas of the world.”