TRADE WITHIN EMPIRE

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 309, 30 December 1922, Page 11

TRADE WITHIN EMPIRE

NZ.'S HIGH EXAMPLE. ; WARMER RESPONSE NEEDED, j (By MR. R- W. DALTON. British Trade Commissioner in New Zealand.) It was recently reported that Mr. jlassev the Prime >finisber of New Zealand, had stated publicly that one"T>f jlis chief ideals was "to encouraee by educational and other means practical patriotism, love of country, appreciation 0 f British citizenship, and pride in Britain's record in peace and war, and to endeavour to make New Zealand a mode! British community, to keep it progressive, prosperous. enlightened, always ready to do its duty in maintaining the principles of British nationhood-" Those who know Mr. Massey intimately know that this is no idle strii.g; of words, but the expression, of a pa«cionatc desire which governs ".lis whole life. And not only is this Mr. Massey's own feeling, but it expresses, probably as well as it could be expressed, the innate wish of the whole of the NewZealand public. It is almost impossible for an Englishman newly arrived in New Zealand to understand the depth of this fetling. and the extent to which it is carried into the private lives of the people is almost unbelievable. The Government and local authorities are deliberate in their preference for British materials, plant and work, and both the merchant and tbe general public follow suit. To some -extent, of course, this is due to a belief in the superior quality of British workmanship, but deep down in the hearts of Ministers, local authorities, and the general public it is known to be a practical expression of their belief in the necessity for the consolidation of Empire. In fact, it is the rule ratber than the reception for commercial firms in New Zealand to go to infinite pains to transfer to the I'nited Kingdom such business as they have previously given to foreign countries, and in numerous cases which have come to my notice they have actually made losses in so doing. But curiously enough they are daunted neither by these losses nor by the somewhat off-hand treatment which, unfortunately, they often receive from those interests in the United Kingdom to whom they wish to transfer their business and to whose interest it would be to have it. It has been my duty now for six years to watch closely the economic and'eommercial life of New Zealand, particularly with a view Jo developing rc/ations with the Mother Country, and I have been more and more convinced—because I nave seen more and more evidence of it— that the practical, commercial, as well as sentimental, patriotism of New Zealand towards the Mother Country, with the possibilities of its effect on commercial relationships, if it is understood at all, is understood to the full only by those of our merchants and manufacturers who have had active and personal experience in New Zealand, andthev are terribly few. ERRORS OF IGNORANCE. Mistakes which are made by British firms in their relations with New Zealand interests are due almost entirely to this lack of understanding of the sentimental feeling behind New Zealand business. While this feeling is a strength to us at home, it is also a possible weakness. If it is slighted, the effect is apt to be worse than if it had never existed at all. The point then arises--is it worth our while to endeavour to understand their attitude and to carry our sympathy towards it into actual "practice? From the point of view of Imperial relationships ther? can surely be no doubt on. this question. But strictly from the point of view of commercial gain there can-also be no doubt. Although New Zealand's population is only a little over a million, her wealth is enrrmous. In the brightest days of the boom period land for dairying nurposes was selling in New Zealand as high as £250 per acre, and prices of from £80 to £100 per acre were the rule rather than the exception. These lands paid at such prices and most of thexn are still being fanned, though at some loss in many •*ases owing to the collapse of markets. With land at such prices and 13,000 miles •way from her chief market. New Zealand can still compete with countries close to England where land is infinitely cheaper. That this can be so is proof of tbe extraordinarily favourable conditions under which New Zealand works. The climate is such that in the dairying districts it is unnecessary to grow any winter feed, and stock need never be anused. The wool-growing capacity of Zealand is well known, but wool i 9 gradually becoming less important than dairy produce; and the development of the future will undoubtedly be to intensify the importance of the; dairying industry. New Zealand is. indeed, so wealthy 'bat she is at present engaged, for instance, in th P development of hydroe ""-tri c pnwe r for the North Ts'land, *!ieh. wiil cost £-20,000,000 before the •n-rgv is at the doors of the users. In •tier directions she is committed to heavy expendifure in developmental Wnr ' s. and no one would suggest that svli expenditure is unjustified. • s fnr a« her exports are concerned. **w Zealand is determined also to canmeans of exhausting the possibilities of the markets of Britain before Mr looks elsewhere. About 75 per cent, of her exportable produce now comes to r-'tasn. In replying to suggestions that peei*l efforts to increase trade else*""e h shonld be made. Mr. Massey recently stated that until he was satisfied that th P markets of Britain were being •applied to capacity he was not disposed tV ' ''"" ' i ' p ps which were suggested. 0 meat pool and the proposed dairy hi-.l ..,.,, ;„ , r * . j : i» a large measure designed to .t-;„,.., ,-,„ , c c _v . . ■' "tup end ot even further per'ii'.' \'e\>- Zealand's exporting methods. ~ " t"eir systems or (.overnment ,', !; - and in other -ways are alread\ h '.-''.v 'T| .ni-ed. B'UTIMI SKTTLERS WANTED. If New Zealand suffers from anything, "-is the lac'; of knowledge of the Dom•nion and its ideals which exists not ° n,v in forc.gn countries, but also, un'"r.uiia.cn. in (,'reat liritaTrT. Immigration, of course, is needed, and New Zea--**»U .-lav-men reil:z:- the necessity for 8 defhtkelv planned scheme for encour•snng I',, urowth of the Dominion's P°pul.r.'.un | lV the introduction of the !»ost dcs'-Mble type of settlers. To New :*aland tils mean- the introduction of British settlers to the maximum, and. therefore, a further development of the Possibilities for British trade.

It is surely worth while, then, for I British interests to show every consid- j eration to a country with such possibilities in which the* patriotic sentiment I would prove so great an assistance to ! the development of British trade. From I the strictly commercial point of view, ' such consideration will prove profitable j but from the broader point of view of the consolidation of the Empire, sympathetic i consideration » vitally necessary. I Various concrete suggestions could be i made as to possible improvements in methods of organisation; but first and I foremost it is necessary to instil into the minds of our trading interests that I they are not dealing with a country which j sets merely business consideration above all others, but with a British country whose Government, local authorities, j business people, and general public allow their belief in Empire to influence their business and daily life. If this is realized a different tone will prevail in our business associations with New Zealand, which in itself will produce important results and will ultimately bring with it such improvements in organization as are necessary. To any suggestion that trade between the Mother Country and New Zealand might 'be developed, the Dominion would certainly say that she is ready and I anxious for such development—in fact, her recently revised preferential tariff was a practical expression of her desire for this development — but she will equally certainly say that Britain has not yet taken full advantage of the opportunities which the Dominion freely offers. j