EXPANSION OF TRADE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 95, 23 April 1926, Page 7

EXPANSION OF TRADE.

HELPING OUR OWN MANUFACTURERS. DEVELOPING A NEW LEAGUE. SUPPORT FROM BUSINESS MEN. As an indication of the increasing support that business men in New Zealand are willing and'anxious to give to the Empire Trade Expansion. League, the approval that has been expressed in Wellington of the policy, outlined by Mr. i Foster Kells Mason, .honorary organiser, .who went South thia week, is regarded locally as a pleasing development. "The new league has still a ' great deal of work ahead," remarked Mr. W. J. Keyes, secretary of the International Forestry Delegation, to-day; "but it is gratifying at this early stage to find that there is an undoubted desire .to recognise its utility." Explaining the purposes of the league, Mr. Keyes said that it was pledged to the following proposals:— . . '. tl) To bring together the people of the Dominion and fight .for. preference for New. Zealand made goods. (2) To give preference, firstly, to Nei*f Zealand; secondly, to any other portion of the countries being considered last. • (3) To urge the passing of special laws which would ensure of New Zealand manufacturers gaining the first opportunity of quoting for business before any orders were given outside the Dominion. (4) To bring together all the people in a comprehensive organisation, and encourage the concentration of efforts for practical patriotism and advancement of the Empire on economic lines. Genesis Two Months Ago. Reviewing the development of the league, Mr. Keyes explained that it had its genesis about two months ago, and already there were encouraging signs in the fact that the South Island had set aside any feeling of antipathy caused by the early difficulties over. the. Auckland Court at the Dunedin exhibition. After a Dominion tour, Mr.. Keyes advanced the proposal to establish the new league, as a means of removing the misunderstanding between the peoples of tha north and south. As it was recognised that a lead should be given by the business men, the movement took the direction of enlisting their sympathy and support. It was not proposed that any water-tight system should be adopted in assisting local manufacturers as against those abroad; butj at tbe same time, the vigorous advancement' of home industries, it was urged, should be the key-stone of the league's policy. i 'Undoubtedly a trade expansion league, representative of all interests, should, on properly organised lines, perform an important national work," observed Mr. Keyes. "The result of Mr. Mason's tour should be that in the near future a thriving organisation will be established throughout the country."