Second Edition Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 92, 24 March 1916, Page 6

Second Edition Great Britain

MR HUGHES' MISSION. SHIPOWNERS' ORGAN LASHES OUT. "SELFISH FOLLY OF THE AUSTRALIAN WHEAT FARMER." [United Pbkss 'Association.) (Received Noon. London, March 28. "Fairplay," the shipowners' organ, refefs to the selfish folly of the Australian wheat farmer in insisting upon his crop being carried at any cost, regardless of the claims of other members of his community or of the interests of the United Kingdom. The paper hopes that Mr Hughes will realise that his Government can- . not take up the position of Lord High "' without an injurious result to the Empire. Tonnage was for general, cargo to Australia, "and exorbitant rates were offered without - attracting tonnage, because owners know that the*Australian Government is waiting to pounce on any British tonnage coming along, and to compel, owners to take about half the "freight to which it is entitled, compared with other business offering. Thus the Australian farmer is de-priving.-''the entire ; community of a thousand and one .articles required from Britain and America, or, if he eventually fets them, pays through the nose for freight. Mr Hughes was much too sensible not to see the disadvantages of tlie present policy, which in regard to the wheat problem is serious. i: , "Fairplay" is sure Mr Hughes will be, the -first to recognise that'it must always be-subservient to the Imperial interests. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. ■ (Received .2.5 p.m.) London, March 23. Obituary.—l. A..,Mason, a wellknown official of the New Zealand High Commissioner's Office. The freedom-of the City of Bristol, is to be conferred upon Sir Thomas Mackenzie. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, speaking at a meeting of the Early Closing Association at the Mansion House, sakl the conditions in New Zealand in 1873 were better than in many parts of London to-day. Unless we won the war, all social reforms would be useless. Adequate Imperial defence must bo the first consideration, and the next in importance was the organisation of the national resources. It should not lie possible for the products of the Dominions to be landed cheaper in Germany than Britain. In " exports, Germany had the advantage, fcecausß of '<• the • cheap state-owned ('railways compared to the high rates I in England, and also the advantage ij in that they .were carried abroad in P subsidised steamers, but these handi- ;', caps to British trade must be reHJ moved.. 'y-?: h jM ■',