IMPERIAL TRADE.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14854, 20 December 1913, Page 16

IMPERIAL TRADE.

ALL-BRITISH SHOPPING. SPEECH BY MR MACKENZIE. (-THOU OUB OW- COEBESFON-D-KT.) LONDON, November 12. Speaking in support of a resolution advocating the principle of buying Home and colonial goods in preference to foreign articles, at a meeting of the Union Jack Industries League, hdd yesterday at 20 Bolton street, the High Commissoner for New Zealand said that in capturing the Home butter market tho DaneS had shown an organisation which was entirely absent so far as New Zealand and Australia were concerned. Until those States organised to have their butter sent all the year round as the Danes did, so that tho retail grocer could" stock it continuously, he did no ._ think they would displace Danish butter in England. He was sure that if the British public only realised the conditions under which NewZealand dairy produce was marketed they would havo no hesitation in demanding it at the shops. New Zealand produced an article of the highest quality, and it camo Home in an absolutely pure and wholesome condition. The same remarks applied to meat. He viewed with favour the attempt to persuade buyers to purchase Britishmade goods. In the Dominion which ho represented they had given preference to British goods, with the result that in one year tho trade in boots and shoes was taken right away from American to British manufacturers. And so long as the quality was there Government orders went in favour of the Home Country. (Applause.) He firmly believed that the British-made article was infinitely superior to the foreign-made article. Mr Mackenzie then considered the subject from the points of view of emigration and borrowing, and pointed out how emigration meant the transference of the surplus population at Home to new territories for the development of Britain's national wealth. To carry out that policy thoy had to borrow. * The money was not spont in connexion with tho ordinary government of the country. It was used solely for development purposes—for the advancement and carrying on of the work of colonisation, and every penny- that Now Zealand borrowed brought in for tho indus-ti-y to wliich it was applied as high a rate of interest as the Dominion was paying to the Home lenders. In addition, orders for goods came to Bri%un and employed the people here. They wero peopling theso territories with men who would stand by the Old Country, and who would share in the respoiisibilities of Empire. He hoped the time was not far distant when they would have a more important voice in Imperial affairs, because until that came about the destiny of the Empire, would not be fully accomplished. In conclusion, Mr Mackenzie mentioned that in his country it was regarded as a reflection to purchase articles not of British manufacture, and remarked that on ono occasion when it was discovered that New Zealand Government clerics were using Bavarian pencils, British pencils were immediately substituted.