* * * * The Committee appointed by the Imperial
Economic Conference to suggest means of developing trade within the Empire have presented a unanimous Report. The principal recommendation is that Imperial products should be provided with a plain means of identification. It is easy to wish to buy Dominion goods in a shop, but not easy to find out which the Dominion goods are. Some years ago, when the Act was passed requiring German goods to be labelled with their source of origin, it was complained that this would simply be giving a free advertisement to Germany. We believe that the device has actually served that purpose. If so, there is now an excellent argument (which we think Free Traders ought to acknowledge) for giving a similar advertise- ment to the Dominions. It is suggested that there might be such labels as " Empire Produce," " Foreign Pro- duce," and if possible " Home Produce." We cannot see any objection to this. After all, nobody is going to buy an article of bad quality out of sentiment. When the labels have, so to speak, been nailed to the mast it will be " up to " the producer to win his way by the high quality of his goods.
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