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Waikato Independent, Volume XL, Issue 3668, 15 February 1940, Page 2

FREE PRODUCE

SHOULD BE GIVEN TO BRITAIN ECONOMIC ADVISER’S VIEW At present the war for Australia was only a two bob in the pound afFair, as expenditure, although rising, was still probably only a tenth of national income, said the economic adviser to the New South Wales Treasury (Mr H. D. Black), speaking at the annual summer school of the Australian Institute of Political Science. Mr Black, who is also lecturer in economics at Sydney University, stated that Australia’s preparations could not be regarded as mobilising for a total war; but he deprecated the adoption of a light view of the task ahead. He said that as long as the war lasted Australia should give from £7,000,000 to £10,000,000 worth of produce annually, free of charge to Britain and her allies. Mr Black said the plan should be paid for by extra taxation. A suggestion that produce should be given to Britain free of charge had been made by the Federal Opposition Leader (Mr Curtin), but so far there had been no acceptance, even of the principle. Indifference caused by remoteness from the actual theatre of war was still a factor which limited the extent to which the Government was prepared to go. “There is a false and dangetous optimism abroad that Australa will be able to carry through both a war effort and many of the commercial and developmental schemes which the people have been led to believe are needed,” said Mr Black. He had no doubt, he added, that the struggle would become a total war when the dwindling alternatives before Hitler and Stalin were exhausted. STRANGE CARGOES THROUGH PORT OF LONDON Among consignments which have found their way into the Port of London recently are items which are unfamiliar to us as well as quantities of goods which, although not unknown before in the port, are of more than passing interest. In the former class is chrysalis oil and bales of tula ixtle. Other cargoes of interest include molybdenite concentrate (a metal used for hardening steel), copper cathodes, gilsonite. (a mineral rubber used for varnishes - and insulating), quebracke extract (used in tanning and dyeing), slabs of Chinese tea, gum damar (employed in the making of sticking plaster, varnishes, etc.), Vetivel oil (extract of kus-kus grass root used in perfumery) and buckwheat honey.