Summary heading

Function and purpose

This series consists of one file of carbon copies of speeches by Prime Minister Stanley Melbourne Bruce on various economic issues such as primary industries, the economics of production, overseas markets, empire economics, and ‘Australia’s problems’.  The speeches, which are on average 10 pages long, are all dated either September or October 1924.  A note written by Bruce in September 1966, stating that “These papers give a very clear indication of how my mind was working on a great number of subjects”, is also in the file.  It is unclear whether the speeches were actually delivered and to whom, although a number of the speeches are worded as if being directed to representatives of the relevant industries. 

The speeches in the file bear the following titles: ‘The Dairying Industry’, ‘The Beef Industry’, ‘The Apple Industry’, ‘The Wine Industry’, ‘The Dried Fruit Industry’, ‘The Canned Fruit Industry’, ‘The Wheat Industry’, ‘Orange Growing’, ‘The Wool Industry’, ‘Notes on the Organisation and Protection of Australia’s Primary Industries’, ‘The Utilisation of Irrigation Areas’, ‘Population and Land Settlement’, ‘British Markets’, ‘Export Control Boards’, ‘Publicity for Our Products’, ‘The Imperial Economic Committee’, ‘Empire Economic Policy’, ‘Protection and Efficiency’ and ‘Arbitration and Efficiency’.  Many of the speeches refer to Bruce’s visit to the Imperial Economic Conference in Britain, the sale of Dominion products throughout the Empire, and marketing and efficiency in various industries.    

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Publication note

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