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Up to the present the Union has concentrated on wool production, but economic conditions have forced it to consider the production of mutton and lamb for export. Provided some preferential treatment could be extended to it by Great Britain there would seem to be every prospect of the Union becoming a regular supplier of mutton and lamb to the British market. The Union has million sheep, mostly woolled, but Union farmers have already commenced breeding mutton types and with a large supply of comparatively cheap food which is available, there is very little doubt that the production of both mutton and lamb could be carried out rapidly and on an extensive scale. The dairy industry in the Union has developed very rapidly during the past two years and the Union, with other Dominions, is very desirous of increasing and improving the marketing facilities for dairy products. It is true that Great Britain has already granted to the Dominions 10 per cent preference under the Imports Duties Act, but foreign competitors have already largely nullified the effects of this concession by a reduction in prices. It is hoped therefore that Great Britain may find it possible to revise the preferences accorded to the Dominions under that Act. During 1931, the Union exported over 4 million pounds of butter and, although this quantity is relatively small, the Union is in such a favourable position in regard to available land and food supplies that no limit can be placed on the development of the dairy industry provided always marketing conditions were made favourable. The Fruit industry has become of great importance to the Union involving relatively large areas, and thousands of farmers are dependent upon the industry. Its growth is reflected in the export values which in 1931 amounted to close on l\ million pounds to Britain alone and in the fact that nearly 10 million trees are not yet in full bearing. The Union Department of Agriculture has developed excellent systems of packing, grading and inspection of 'fruit with the result that South African fruit has already made a name for itself in Great Britain which is its best market. Competition, however, from foreign countries, such as the United States of America and some of the South American States, is becoming increasingly strong. Great Britain has granted 10 per cent preference on fresh fruits but it has already become patent that in the case of citrus this preference cannot be effective. The position is such that the Union is forced to ask for further consideration of its fruit exports and also in regard to its wines and tobacco. Reference was made yesterday by us to the existing trade position between the United Kingdom and the Union and the difficulty under those circumstances of further increasing imports from the United Kingdom, but if the United Kingdom is willing to make further concessions in these matters, the Union will be prepared to give favourable consideration to requests for additional preferences on commodities which offer the greatest possibilities of an increase in trade to the mutual benefit of both countries. It is not suggested that along these lines a panacea may be found for the world's ills, nor yet that by the adoption of these expedients within the British Commonwealth the depression will immediately vanish. The disease from which the world has been suffering is too deepseated to expect a sudden and miraculous recovery upon the abatement of the symptoms. But the health of the organism is conditioned by the health of its constituent parts and if the members of the Commonwealth improve their substance by a fair and mutually advantageous adjustment of their commercial relations, they would further the cause of general recovery and stabilization by a revival of confidence. STATEMENT BY THE LEADER OF THE DELEGATION FOR SOUTHERN RHODESIA (THE HONOURABLE H. U. MOFFAT) (Placed on Record on Wednesday, the 27th July, 1932.) It is 42 years since the first occupation of Southern Rhodesia by Europeans and during this period there has been considerable development. The main industries of the Colony are the production of primary commodities, both mineral and agricultural. Owing to its inland position and having no seaboard, it is not likely to become a manufacturing country, though a few secondary industries based mainly on local products for the local market and for export to the territories inland have grown up.