STABILITY OF TRADE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 287, 1 December 1923, Page 7

STABILITY OF TRADE.

SLOW RESTORATION AFTER "WAR. SUPPLIES FROM BRITAIN. Discussing British trade questions at Timaru on Wednesday, Mr. Noel Elmslie, Britisli Trade Commissioner, said that the evidences of the restoration of trade stability since the war had been so slow that investigation was difficult. Many theories were advanced regarding reconstruction. No country in the world could be seriously hit without other countries being affected. The application to NewZealand was by no means negligible. Great Britain was utterly dependent on the export of manufactured goods, and the thoughts of the whole/Empire were turned towards endeavouring to forget the troubles in other parts of the world and make Great Britain more self-con-tained. To-day the manufacturers at Home were taking pains to supply what was wanted. The ordinary purchaser did not take the trouble to find out where his goods came from. A glance round the shops in any town would show that many of the lines of goods were of foreign origin. These goods could be procured from Great Britain at the same price and of the same quality. Great Britain was ready and willing to make what this country wanted. The fault lay more largely at Home than out here. Most of the products of New Zealand were sold in England. But the purchasing power of tho country was iow on account of the enormous unemployment.

Mr. J. Anstey asked why the British manufacturers did not cater for what New Zealand wanted. For instance, the Ford car was the only machine the ordinary farmer could afford. The reaper and binder was another item. Then the Britisher could manufacture a suitable traction engine, but he failed on the reaper and binder.

Mr. Elmslie stated that in nineteen cases out of twenty the point quoted was motor cars. During the war years the American experimented largely in cars, while the British manufacturer was busy on war material. It had taken England a long time to catch up again, in fact it was 1921 before any headway had been made. The Ford was a special production and the cost was so low that it was doubtful if the English manufacturer could compete for the next two or three years.

Regarding agricultural machinery, the threshing machine was not used very largely in England, but the traction engine was, and that, said Mr. Elmslie, was probably the cause of the unsuitability of the machine for New Zealand. It was a very sound policy for a young country like New Zealand to make what it could for itself. Great Britain had to pay America £35,000,000 a year as interest and sinking fund on the enormous debts to America, which had a prohibitive tariff, and would not take goods, and that was the chief reason why he quoted American products. The burden was crippling the Old Country, and it was absolutely necessary to endeavour to meet American competition.

Mr. May said that Great Britain was chiefly lacking in salesmanship. He did not see how Mr. Elmslie could assist in any way. England should send out the practical man to go into this matter.

Mr. Elmslie said that certainly the Britisher was out to supply what was wanted. And it would cost approximately £2000 to send a man to New Zealand and keep him there for any length of time. His (the speaker's) duty was to make a preliminary investigation and inform the manufacturers of the state of the market, requirements, etc. He agreed with Mr. May that salesmanship was lacking. This was a vital point.