Overseas Trade Destroyed

Workers Sacrificed When Overseas Trade Destroyed

It is almost impossible to over-value the trade possibilities that exist for Australia in the wealthy and populous countries within easy steam of her nor thern coastline. Not only do they pre sent excellent markets for the disposal of our surplus products but they will themselves be able to supply us with many necessary commodities and food stuffs that have been in short supply during the war years.

Of all these countries the islands of the Netherlands East Indies will be of the greatest importance to our post-war trade. Relatively close to us, they pro duce tea, coffee, rubber, quinine, kapok, oil and other goods required in Australia.

In pre-war days we imported over 70 per cent, of our tea from the Indies and almost the same proportion of coffee as well as large shipments of rubber, oil and other products.

Many of the plantations in the Nether lands Indies were put out of operation by the Japanese and until the Dutch are able to restore order in the islands and get production on the way again, we can

not expect supplies of these products to reach pre-war volume.

The Dutch face a tremendous task.

They have ordered some millions of pounds worth of goods from Australia; goods urgently required for the rehabili tation of the Indonesians but, for months past, although bought and paid for by the Dutch, these goods have been pre vented from leaving Australia, whilst the Dutch ships to carry them away have been lying idle in Australian ports.

This is the result of the activities of a noisy group of “red fascists” who seek to dictate the foreign policy of Australia.

These disruptionists, like their comrades all over the world, look upon chaos in industry as a necessary prelude to world revolution.

In their determination to embarrass the Dutch, they are actually supporting a Japanese-trained leader of the extreme revolutionaries in the Indies. In the pro cess they are sacrificing Australian workers who could have had the jobs making the goods that the Dutch are now forced to order from other countries.

Contributed by Ceigoa Pty., Limited

(Consolidated Export and Import Group of Australia ), 54 Oxford Street,

Sydney.

Dr. D. W. Hoodless, principal of the Central Medical School, Suva, has given formal notice that he wishes to retire, as from September 30, 1946. The Fiji Government hopes to appoint a successor in time to allow him to spend three or four months with Dr. Hoodless at the school.

But is is a position exceedingly hard to

fill. Dr. Hoodless made the school his hobby and chief interest in life, as well as his official responsibility; and the remarkable success of the institution is due largely to his long years of devoted service. The training of these young Pacific Islanders to become native medi cal practitioners is a fascinating job for the right kind of medical man.