LOWER COSTS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 September 1932, Page 7

LOWER COSTS

AUSTRALIA TACKLING THE

QUESTION.

ECONOMIC CRISIS PASSING

WELLINGfIJON, September 5

“While up to the P res &nt they seem 'to have been content with exchange inflation, they are now tackling the question of coat® in ranch the same way’ as Now Zealand,” remarked Mr G, Shirtcliffe . when discussing Australia’s economic position upon his return from a visit to the Commonwealth to'day, “Drastic cuts -airs being made in Government expenditure and interest rates generally have been reduced,” Mr 'Shirtcliffe ‘said. “The general feeling seems to be that they have seen the worst of th© depression, and this feeling ;:g enhanced by the very acceptable rise in wool at the auction sales that were being held when wt left. If that rise is maintained ii wall ntean an increase of about £2 « bale on the whole Australian clip oi about two million bales.” In reference -to -the Ottawa -Conference, iMr iSh-irtcliffe said the genera fueling Indicated by Press ar-tickv seemed to b© that th o Ottawa Conference wa» very . satisfactory for Australian interests, that she had given a wavvery little , and had obtained substan tial concessions from the Old Country. •EXPORTS TO THE EAST.

“One thing I noticed,” said Mi ,Shirtcliffe, “was the large trade Aus tralia does with the East. I t-him she disposed last year of about 500,00 bales of wool to Japan, besides heavj shipments of meat and flour aac 1 general goods.” He added that tli Old Country absorbed a bigger pei peutage of New Zealand wool than it did of the Australian clip. “I judge that the secondary Indus tries in Australia are in a more o less flourishing condition,” he re marked. “Importations during tin .last two years havte decreased enoi mously, but stilt the market -seemed t< be; well -supplied with manufacture' goods of all 'descriptions, On e w.e struck iwith the excellent quality of tli goods manufactured ;in Australia, pa: ticularly boots and shoes and clot) ing.”