ENGLAND AND IRELAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 69, 22 March 1928, Page 10

ENGLAND AND IRELAND.

TRADE CONDITIONS.

BANKER'S HOPEFUL VIEW.

At the annual general meeting of the National Bank, Ltd., in London, on January 26,' interesting references were made to trade conditions in England and Ireland. The chairmafr, Mr. J. B. Meers, said, inter alia, dealing with trade in England:—"lt is very encouraging to note from the oversees trade return the substantial decrease during 1927, when compared with 1026, in the visible adverse balance. Imports are some twenty-one less, while there is a large in-crease—fifty-six millions—in exports This clearly indicates that we are making progress. A review of the position in Ireland discloses an improvement in the external trade as reflected in larger exports and reduced imports, thereby showing a substantial reduction in the visible adverse trade balance. Unfortunately this is not accompanied by more prosperous internal trade. Some improvement is noticeable in the textile and shipbuilding industries in the North-East, and a steadily increasing dairying business throughout Southern Ireland.. Peace prevails in the industrial world. The highlv ffotfttion of the «scond n«tional loan in Dublin and New York on more favourable terms? than the previous loan, is?i very gratifying. eA'boUt s one -million subscriptions of our cHeitM id 'the Second National Free State loan passed through '0# bank.'W m, ft <*•* ~ Sir Henry Grattan Esmond*, < deputy -chairman .of the bank, and chairman of the Irish bbart* are certm? iMgfei#M<H6 the prosperity of England Ireland must inevitably share. The coming together of.'capital and Jabour is important. That isfithe real .solution of the difficulty which has been so acute in England and Ireland during recent years: During" most of my political life"l have had ? the , honour -of being associated with many of these gentjfmen, and it is my confident-bSlief that the interests of English labbur are perfebtly safe in their trainecf and expert hands. Tuhiing to Ireland, agriculture has never been in a worse condition than it reached last yeir. There is np doubt about it that the Free State Ittvernmenfc very wise and ufeful steps foV the? encouragement anH regulation of the agricultural industry which eventually have excellent results in the Free State, if not further. The future political developments in the Free State ate now on settled constitutional lines. That means that in the Free State we "fall- ha?ft,,a'Stible system of government. With the certainty eKyt* Matinuahce :of that state of things the shareholders of the National Rank, have not .the smallest I reason to be anxious as' to what the" future has in store for them."