London, Jan. 12.
The Empire's supply position is regarded rb highly favourable generally by the Ministry of Supply, which has become possibly the largest trader in the world. It handles directly materials to an annual value of £150,000,000. and in regard not only to aluminium, copper and other nonferrous metals but to raw materials for fertilizers, molasses and scores of other commodities, it buys up practically all available supplies ip this country.
e Ministry's Parliamentary Secre-Colonel Llewellyn, discussing the supply situation, said the Empire was almost self-supporting in the raw materials it needed.
"We supply & large proportion of the rubber and tin of the world, and in other commodities the productive capacity has been considerably increased since 1914.
"Rhodesia has since opened copper mines, Canada producing alum minium, Sierra Leone iron ore, and India cotton.
"The Empire production of copper has increased from 85,000 tons annually!in 1914 to 600,000 tons, lead ore from 130,000 to 630.000, nickel from 30,000 to 95000 tons, and alum miniurà from 13,900 tons to 88,000." clips from Australia and New Zealand Óor the period of the war, and the year after, as well as clips from South Africa—Reuter, London, Jan. 13.
India has been buying some cargoes of Australian wheat as a result of the rapid rise in Indian prices. If the tire continues much higher, the trade will canvass the possibility of the Indian Government reducing, or abolishing, the import duty.
The future size of imports is dependent on this factor, and on crop developments which recently have been adverse, but the Indian crop possesses great recuperative powers at this stage of growth.. Latest "weather reports show a marked improvement.—Reuter, N. Z. Forestry Company London, Jan. 13.
The New Zealand Government basi announced the formation for service The Ministry has bought all wool! overseas of a forestry company for logging and sawmills, and of a rail-' way survey construction and maintenance force. Both units wilt begin! training early in February,—Reuter,-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.