WOOL FROM RUSSIA

Waipa Post, Volume 48, Issue 3470, 24 May 1934, Page 3

WOOL FROM RUSSIA

It is an entirely crazy world, comments a writer in the London Daily*" Herald, and he adds: The Government has decreed that this year there shall be imported into this country only 350,000 standards of Russian wood. The timber firms have already sent in to Timber Distributors, Ltd. (who handle the Russian imports) orders totalling 550,000 standards. So British timber firms are not allowed to buy 200,000 standards of Russian wood that they need. Furthermore, 200,000 standards mean about £2,000,000. Under the Trade Agreement, Russia, through our buying that £2,000,000 worth of timber, would be bound to spend £1,200,000 directly on orders in this country. The Government's edict will reduce British exports by £1,200,000 British imports by £2,000,000, and total international trade by £4,000,000 (the odd £BOO,OOO being the indirect comeback from the timber transaction. And this is the doing of a Government which professes that, the restoration of international trade in general, and British exports in particular, is one of ist main purposes. As I say, it is a crazy world. And Down Street seems to be rather crazier than the rest of it.