AUSTRALIAN PROGRAMME

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2420, 27 March 1915, Page 29

AUSTRALIAN PROGRAMME

EMPIRE TRADE EXPANSION. The campaign of the Trade Expansion Committee, organised jointly bv the Sydney Chamber of Commerce, the New. South • Wales Chamber of Manufactures, and the Millions Club, is now actively under way. The committee charged with drawing up a scheme has .made recommendations, with the objent of keepjng alive public interest'in this "made in Germany" aspect of the situation, so that consumers may be induced both now and subsequently to ask for British-made goods, or for goods iriade in 'the ..countries allied with Britain. It is proposed to do this:— By appealing to consumers to pledge •themselves not to .purchase enemy goods. A prize to be offered for the best manner in which this pledge can be most'effectively secured. By asking retail merchants to display British and Allies' goods, giving special prominence to those manufactured within the Empire. By asking. salesmen to recommend British and Allies' goods, and to assist the consumer in every way to exerciso the necessary discrimination. By securing some method of brandin™ goods," showing plainly the country of origin. ' By urging traders to prevent in every possible .way the . representation of enemy goods as being lr.ade in friendly countries.'.; By enlisting the sympathy and support of women shoppers and co-operat-ing with the movement which has been starfed by them. By asking all_ public bodies (Federal, State, and, municipal) to accord air reasonable preference to firms of British, Australian, or Allied nationality. By circularising members of the threp bodies represented on the above committee,'as .well as those of the Country Traders and other astociations, asking to co-operate by monetary support and 'otherwise. x Another suggestion is that representation should be made in the proper quarter with regard to concessions which have hitherto been given by German railways (and which will probably be increased after the war), from the point of >view of some similar allowance to allied carrying companies, in order to 'render their competition successful; whilst it is also proposed to hold an "Empire week" 011 similar lines to manufacturers' week. In this connection it might bo arranged that various large factories and other business establishments should be thrown open to the public. i