BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1924, Page 3

BRITISH PARLIAMENT

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION MR BALDWIN’S J’LAN. VAST C'OOI- STORKS. LONDON. Ini ember is. Tin* “Sun's special correspondent Joanns that huge scientific. cold stores on the hanks of the Thames, equipped •with the latest machinery and defrosting devices, erected with finance by the TJritis.i Government, is the kingpin of Mr Baldwin’s secret scheme of spending a million to aid the Dominion’s food exporters, who are to bo given preferential treatment. Regarding the accommodation therein. well-informed people estimated the Governmental cold stores will he handling the Dominions meat and fruit within a year. The newspapers are blaming Mr Baldwin for his vagueness when announcing the million scheme in the Commons and they say it is now clear that Mr Baldwin faced the enunciation of a proposition savouring strongly ol Socialisation. The Government’s assistance to the Dominions will not end with cold stores and there will probably be established a honrd consisting of representatives of the producers and consumers to act in the closest touch with the Imperial Economic Committee in <ooperating with the exporters to secure a uniformity of grading, the standardisation of finalities, co-ordinate transport facilities'on land and sea. investigate the possibilities of the development of the existing and new sources of food supply within the Empire, exploring possible methods of applying preferential treatment to Empire supplies particularly in regard to marketing, and the finance of transport. The Imperial Economic Committee will act ns a sort of vigilance association in drawing the attention of the Government to any instances wherein even a humble pound spent on foreign food which might have been produced in the 'Empire. It is learned the Government will not embark on any retailing enterprises, nor interfere with shipping, hut leave the gate open to the Australian Government, hv the utilisation of its own I ships and cheaper rates, thus giving Australian producers additional prelei-