EMPIRE TRADE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 53, 4 March 1926, Page 12

EMPIRE TRADE.

(To the Editor.) Sir. —Allow mc to express my pleasure at the definite pronouncement in favour of an Empire Trading League. It is a matter for congratulation that the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce ha 3 given the movement its hearty endorsement, and I trust the Auckland province will not be lacking in support of a material character.

In Wellington at a recent date I noticed amongst the more prominent business men a distinct tone of patriotic sympathy with British industries and British products, allied with a genuine desire to put their wishes into practical effect. In practice, however, there is always the difficulty that there is no composite body representing British trade to give advice or foster British interests by the right methods of propaganda. On the other hand, foreign interests are advertised widely and every facility is offered to the New Zealand investor to deal with such interests. Under such circumstances it is easily understood that the best of intentions from a patriotic point of view are shelved in favour of the advantages which may be derived from the trade facilities offered. Apart from the serious economical aspect viewed from the Empire standpoint, it is futile to attempt any disgtiise of the fact that subtle forces are always working in an endeavour to disintegrate the Empire, as the late strike of seamen, for example, showed only too well. If it were only to pursue the axiomatic principle. "God helps those who help themselves." it is evident that the time is now ripe to establish a counter-attack to such revolutionary measures. Wembley has exhibited to the world the resources of our Empire, and in a small but no less successful manner we have had them presented in the Dunedin Exhibition. While patriotic feeling has received a stimulus it is to be hoped that a concrete development of Empire trade will be evolved. With that view I hope that the expression? of Mr. Keyes will fall on fruitful soil, and I trust that in Auckland we will see an immediate establishment of a working committee to propagate "within the Empire trade." I am. etc., FOSTER KELLS MASON.