RUSSIAN TRADE

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1931, Page 2

RUSSIAN TRADE

MENACE TO AUSTRALIA.

MYSTERIOUS TIMBER SHIPMENT. SYDNEY, June 23. The mysterious arrival in Sydney in a liritish steamer, ol a siupinent cn Russian timber loaded at Vladivostok, has not yet been eieaied up, but it is regarded as further evidence of the menace of Soviet trade. ihe Federal Government is enquiring into the shipment, but does not appear to have made much progress. r lhe names to the importers have not been revealed, and it was at least six days after the arrival of the steamer before unloading operations commenced. Even then the timber was placed in bond. It is said to be particularly suitable for box-making. For some time Australia lias been threatened with the importation of Russian oil and matches; but until the arrival of the timber cargo ' last week little notice vas taken of the-threats. The Government now realises that the danger is a very real one, and has set on foot extensive enquiries. Tt is a coincidence that large quantiies of up-to-date commercial informndon about Soviet Russia have just reached the Commonwealth ‘Parliamentary Library and a study of this emihasises how serious a menace to* Australian and New Zealand trade Russia nay become. Perhaps the most strikng exhibit, sent from an authoritaive source, is a large wall map showng how the Soviet Five-Year. Plan has iregressed. It shows how railways lave been built, factories established or steel making, agricultural implenent making, oil refining, and the utilisation of the country’s primary inlustries. It i.s claimed that Soviet lussia now produces chromium ore. jig iron, rolled-iron, silver, gold, tungiten, mercury, copper, chemicals, elecrieal and steam machinery, textiles •otton, woollen and hempen goods, ugar, tea, spirits, peat, veget'bles oil rubber articles, matches, bui dii g internals, tobacco, leather goods, linen,H salt, and various kinds of grain. Figures are given showing that in 1931-32 the Union of the Soviet Republics will have 103,500,000 hectares

f land under grain in the State, ool•eotive and individual farms. This is approximately 263,750,000 acres. Australia’s area under grain—mostly wheat—varies from 16,500,000 acres to 17,000,000 acres. Australia’s wheat output would he almost insignificant alongsfde Russia’s. This point is brought out in a book by two Russian economists), “Soviet Foreign Trade— Menace or Promise,” copies of which have also reached Australia. It is claimed that,the charges against Rus sia of dumping are fantastic. It is said that Russia sells her goods at the ruling world prices. Full oredlt is given to the work of foreign experts who have taught the Russians to- embark on secondary industries. Another oaper gives the news that In 1930 Russia was the world’s best customer for agricultural implements.