NEW ZEALAND LOYALTY

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 74, 28 March 1930, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND LOYALTY

IMPORTS AS A TEST.!

WHAT' BRITAIN CAN SUPPLY. TRADE COMIIISSIONER'S APPEAL' (By Correspondent.) HAWERA, this day. In urging the furtherance of reciprocal relations between the\ people .of New Zealand and those of Great Britain, Mr. L.. A. Paish, the British Trade Commissioner in New Zealand, when address-ing-a. large gathering at Hawera, gave positive' proof that" greater purchases'. of British manufactured goods would mean .greater prosperity to both , countries.- His. address marked the end of the tour of British, motor vehicles, organised by the British .Manufacturers' Association of New Zealand. ,; It is common, in New Zealand to hear people adversely criticise the methods of British, trades,-; people," said Mr. Paish. "Most of the arguments are based entirely on theory; and when investigated usually it is' found there, is .no foundation for them." Despite the fact that many took a pessimistic view of 'the future of England!s trade, statistics showed , that it was, qn the increase. Last year disclosed that the export of aeroplanes. had : increased by £1,000,000, locomotives by £500,000, motor cycles.by £1,000,000 aiid ships by £9,000,000. Those figures made, it evident that the Old Country was . passing through a trying period satisfactorily. \

: "Nevertheless, we need the assistance of New Zealand," he said, "for,we still have to pass through very deep water:" Undoubtedly the war was the cause of the,depression, throughout' the. Empire, for the best of the; Empire's men and brains, and practically all its money, been spent in that great struggle. While the loss of those things .had been the-greatest contributing, factor, Britain' "wa;s left also with, a debt>of £10,000,000000, to pay. The repayment of'that cost about £5CN000,000 annually, and only recently had Britain's export trad exceeded that figure. ■) , [■'-: Mr. Paish said he did not' want to make an appeal on the grounds of patriotism, but' he would' ask for' New Zealand to ■ regard Greait Britain as ■ a ,

father, for, like a father, the; Old Land 'had"nurtured the* Dominions and onlheir reaching age had taken them into p»iij rierstiip. Britain / knew New Zealand wae loyal, but wanted to see that- feeling translated into a more , concrete nianner, that,of increasing imports; or British goods.,, . , '■* '

' , It was very difficult to see howiPf benefit could accrue to New Zealand through the purchase of American goods, added Mr. Paish. Why was it that one.third of the imports: of butterclotb : and Cheesecloth came from America,; when British-made cloth, not inferior to the American article, could be purchased at the same price. He had noticed that £15,000 yearly went to America- for tno purchase of .haf 6, yet it was recogmsej that British hats were superior way. . New Zealand spent about * 10WJ , . a yeaiv in America on hosiery, and tne same amount on to olß - J!?? she could secure better quality Uritisn articles at the same price, and infsoine cases cheaper. There.was ho foundation for the suggestion..that British manufacturers could not,-supply what was required. . ... -!'' ' "', "v Britain purchased- £40,000,000 worttt of-New Zealand produce in .the year. while New .Zealand imported atHW. £20,000,000 worth .from Britain. *» Paifih said he was sure that'll A e Zealand increased her imports, tien -Mj exports would increase too, and he by saying that England was.doing bit and was asking New•:Zealand;*■ reciprocate. ' '