The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1927. EMPIRE TRADE POSSIBILITIES

Hokitika Guardian, 22 October 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1927. EMPIRE TRADE POSSIBILITIES

In a review of the tratio possibilities within the British Empire, a London commercial journal goes on to remark that within the Empire there is a wealth of raw materials and labour which is unequalled even by the richly endowed and highly developed United States, and profitable notice may Ikj taken of the fact that the present unparalleled prosperity of the American nation is due in large measure to the keen enterprise and spirit of co-opera-tion manifested over a comparatively short period of years by its people a.s a whole. Favoured by the same factors, there is no limit to the prosperity of the British Empire. Within its confines is a latent productive wealth which can serve the needs and supply many of the luxuries, of man. No other federation of countries in the world has been so liberally endowed by nature a.s our own Empire, and there is little doubt that, had the necessity for exploitation been a.s pressing within the British Commonwealth as in the United States some years ago. and had not the disastrous war intervened, we should have applied ourselves assiduously to that particular task, and today, without much difficulty, would have attained a measure of prosperity exceeding that of our great industrial and commercial rival. At the present time, the prospects of a high degree of development in those parts of the Empire where the population, capital and enterprise can most usefully be employed are distinctly favourable. The rapid progress that has taken place during the last few years in wireless, and in the development of air communications, a.s well as the growing call for more speedy facilities, should combine in the near future to bring closer together the many Imperial centres of production and distribution, resulting in a quicker and larger interchange of commodities and a correspondingly increased demand as prices automatically decrease. The Empire, even moderately developed as n whole, could support its entire present poulation at a much higher average standard of living than that prevailing to-day, and so far as the African Colonies are concerned, it is perfectly obvious that any improvement in the social life of the teeming native population which would follow the application of a thoroughly sound and economic agricultural policy would he in much greater demand among those African peoples many of whom are beginning to appreciate the value of household and other necessities of civilised nations. The Empire itself could supply to this country many commodities which aro at present imported on a large scale from other countries—. in some instances in increasing quantities. In this direction a tremendous field of opportunty is open to Empire sugar producers, and for the use of much larger areas of land for cottongrowing and tobacco cultivation. Wool we already receive in large measure from the Dominions, and although considerable supplies of meat and products of the dairying industry come from Australia and New Zealand, there is a much lnrger market capable of development in this country in favour of Empire products. The foreign supplier has also quite a strong hold upon the English market for wheat and cereals generally, of which we annually import enormous quantities. Marked progress has already been made in popularizing Empire fruits, but hero again much remains to he done in respect of citrus products, grapes and nuts, which for years have been imported in increasing quantities from the countries of Southern Europe Empire wines, too, have an almost unlimted field if they can compete successfully with their Continental rivals. In each and all of these fields of . trad-

ing there is scope for development in Great Britain sufficient to warrant tho employment of many additional thousands in productive effort in the Dominions. The Empire also possesses mineral resources of incalculable value. Tn several metals, notably "old. tin, and nickel, she is the world’s leading source of supply; while Canada alone is at present producing the hulk of the world’s asbestos as well as over 8") per cent, of the output of nickel. Empire production of such valuable minerals as manganese, copper, lead, silver, plumbago and coal is also very high. Tu the output of that useful commodity, rubber. British Malaya is second to none, and so far as timber supplies are concerned ti has long been recognised that the Empire contains some of the best constructional and furniture woods in the world. In this connection it is satisfactory to note that practically all the Imperial sources of supply have made notable progress in the application of sound forestry policies during the last year or two. Another important contribution, not only to the industry of this country, but to the industries of the world, is the supply of raw materials such as oilseeds and oleaginous products of which India and West Africa in particular are such prolific producers. The West African colonies are capable of almost unlimited expansion in this field if demand so warranted. Fibre cultivation within the Empire is also a direction In which further progress could he made t > the mutual benefit of the colonial farmer and the fibre products industry in this country. Since last year’s issue of ‘Trade Products of the British Empire,” more steps have been taken towards the development of our Imperial resources than in any single year during the post-war period. The Imperial Economic Conference last autumn was primarily responsible for initiating this really progressive movement, and its practical and.helpful discussions have borne fruit in the preparation and launching, of a number of schemes designed to cover various aspects of trade and economic development within the Empire. While in one or two directions, particularly in the publicity campaign of the Empire Marketing Board, in favour of Empire products, the effect has been manifestly beneficial in a comparatively short space of time in other spheres, involving research, organisation and co-ordination between authorities in the Domnions and Colonies and the Mother Country, the progress, although necessarily somewhat. slow, is giving evidence of being none the less sure. The one direct ini in which it is generally felt that greater progress might already have been made is that of Empire settlement. the speeding-up of which is vital to the further economic development of the Dominions. There is also the need for additional encouragement to the British capitalist to take a keener financial interest in the industrial pnssibilites existing in the less developed parts of the Empire, and also tho provision of credits to assist in the scientific agricultural development of lho.se already valuable sources of raw material for British industries, the Crown Colonics. On the whole, however, it can safely he stated that tho summer of 1027 finds the Empire being equipped as never before for a fuller and more economic exploitation of its immense resources, and for the stimulation of intor-Tinperial trade.