TRADE WITHIN EMPIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 252, 24 October 1925, Page 9

TRADE WITHIN EMPIRE.

WILL PREFERENCE COME? SOWING THE SEED. LONDON, October 23. Speaking at a dinner given with, the object of promoting the use of Canadian products, and at which the menu consisted of Canadian produce, the Secretary of State for the Dominions ("Mr. L. C. M. S. Amery) insisted "fhat the most effective way of promoting Empire trade was preference. He said that the obvious common sense of such a proposal would eventually commend itself to Britain and every other part of the Empire.

Opposition to, preference, continued Mr. Amery, was due to preconception of economic theories, with something of the religious about them. They could not be shaken even by the most obvious appeals to common sense, but a beginning had been made- The principle of preference was firmly enshrined in the policy of Britain at the instance of a Cabinet which represented all parties.

Much had still to be done by effective organisation, better publicity, and the goodwill of the people. A 9 has been suggested by the Economic Committee, trade was not so much a matter of politics as of custom and habit.— (Reuter.) BTJY BRITISH GOODS. PLAIN MARKS WANTED. LONDON, October 23. The Federation of British Industries has written to the President of the Board of Trade urging the vital necessity for the introduction of legislation to enforce the marking of goods with the names of the country of origin. The federation states that in view of support by Ministers for the "Buy British Goods" campaign," the subject has gained increased importance. There is ample evidence to show that the public desires to follow this advice, but difficulties arise owing to the sale of unmarked goods. Ketailers, and even merchants' expert buyers, are often inrfocently misled into passing off foreign goods as British, while the law at present facilitates this being done deliberately by unscrupulous traders. — (A. and Js.Z. Cable)