IMPERIAL COOPERATION

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1689, 21 November 1925, Page 7

IMPERIAL COOPERATION

ENCOURAGING TRADE WITHIN THE EMPIRE. THE PRODUCER AND CONSUMER. Though v-e have heard much during ■he LisL lew months regarding the means of fostering the consumption of Empire products in the United Kingdom, legislative effect has not yet heen given to the findings of the Imperial Economic 'Committee. Nor must it he thought that these recommendations ■will be carried into effect without a considerable amount of opposition from certain quarters. The primary producers of the United Kingdom are by no means in a very prosperous- condition, and for that reason alone (says the Manawatu Daily Times in an editorial) we cannot possibly find fault with the recommendation that the order of preference should be (1) Home production; (2) Empire production outside Britain; and (3) Foreign production. The great possibilities' in fostering trade in Empire-grown foodstuffs have become apparent by the steady progress made in this direction during the last year or so. The imports into Great Britain of butter, for instance, from Empire sources, have largely increased during the past year. Although foreign countries still supply the larger portion, the proportion of Empire-produced butter imported last year represented 47 per cent of the total arrivals, as compared with only ,35 per cent the year before. The great bulk of cheese is, of course, still produced within the British Empire, the proportions being 88 per cent British and 12 per cent foreign. THE MEAT INDUSTRY. Unfortunately, in the meat industry the position is not so favourable. Australia and New Zealand are at a decided disadvantage in having to compete not only with the Home-grown, article, but the importation of live animals and the heavy importations of chilled meat from South America. In consequence of these handicaps, of the beef and veal consumed in the United Kingdom at present only 13.3 per cent represents imports from Empire countries. The position regarding mutton and lamb, however, is far more satisfactory. Out of the total imports, the dominions provide 66.2 per cent amongst which New Zealand occupies the proud position of supplying 48.6 per cent. These figures will show that, with the exception of chees?, perhaps, there exists a wide scope for further extension of Empire trading, and. the British dominions have a reasonable right to expect a fair shar'"> thereof. EXTENDING IMPERIAL TRADE. :To find the means of extending the consumption of Empire-grown foodstuffs without increasing the price to the consumer is no simple matter. To make use of anything in the nature of a tariff is, of 'course, out of the question; and the recommendations made by the Imperial Economic Committee were the outcome of much study and serious consideration. In the case of dairy produce much can be done, no doubt, in preparing the ground and sowing the seeds of Imperial co-opera-tion by enlightening and educating the average consumer to the use of Em-pire-made butter and cheese. With this purpose in view, it is proposed to spend something like half a million sterling a year in an education and advertising campaign. Large amounts are also to be sent by way of inquiring into the preparing, transporting, and marketing of foodstuffs throughout the Empire. Extensive research is intended in an endeavour to solve the problem of transporting beef from the southern dominions to Great Britain without freezing. An immense step forward would no doubt be accomplished if means could be devised to ship our meat to Great Britain by simply applying the chilling process. OPPOSITION TO THE SCHEME. As already mentioned, these large sums will not be spent without serious opposition, and this oposition has already made its appearance in certain sections of the English press. The delicacy of the present situation has been pointed out of late ,on a number of occasions, by men in closest tonch with conditions abroad. At this particular period it is of the utmost importance that the producers of the dominions should not do anything that may tend to check this growing Imperial sentiment, or that may embarrass the .British Government in its endeavour to foster Imperial relationship and good understanding. Mr J; B. Cramsie, the originator of the Australian Meat Council, who has just returned from a world's-tour, tells us of the great efforts being made by many of our 'competitors in the meat trade, which leaves no doubt as to the fierceness of the coming competition.

Sir Mark 'Sheldon, an ex-member of the Imperial Economic Conference, at present on a visit to New Zealand, is even more outspoken. He has no hesitation in saying that the consumers and the trade in Great Britain look with disfavour and distrust upon the suggested activities of New Zealand Control 'Boards, which to their minds can mean only the raising of prices to

consumers. The Hon. W. Pember Reeves, an old New Zealander with an exceptional insight into Imperial affairs and conditions, points out that it is a patriotic duty on the part of the dominions to regard England as the best market and at the same time as the best customer. All these opinions point unmistakably to the fact that'lmperial co-oper-ation can never be a one-sided affair, and can only succeed on a basis of understanding, goodwill, and equitable reciprocity. It is not sufficient that we are able to offer the British consumer something just as good as he can buy from foreign competitors; but it is essential that we offer it at the same price. Above all, anything in the nature of an organised effort to control the price of foodstuffs should be most carefully avoided by the producers of the dominions, for any such action would most certainly be misunderstood and misinterpreted, and would do incalculable harm to the present movement of Imperial trade co-operation.