SELLING AND BUYING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 124, 27 May 1932, Page 6

SELLING AND BUYING.

A few years ago an English business man visiting New Zealand, after a tour of Australia, expressed surprise when in conversation a New Zealander said that in order to sell one had to buy. "In all my travels in Australia and New Zealand," said the visitor, explaining his surprise, "you are the first man I have met who admits this." The incident is recalled by Mr. Stanley Brace's annoyance at the report that unless the Dominions grant new and greatly increased preferences Britain would withdraw her concessions. It is. quite true, as Mr. Bruce says, that for years Australia granted Britain preference without reciprocity. But it is also true that Australia combined this with a high tariff policy and an ideal of making Australia more or less selfcontained, and while Australians were supporting this policy they went on taking for granted that Britain would buy everything Australia sent them. Britain was also shouldering by far the greatest share of Imperial defence. To-day she is paying the whole cost of the Empire Marketing Board, which pushes Dominion produce in English markets, in competition, it may be added, with the output of English farms. If Mr. Bruce thinks that at Ottawa the British representatives, out of regard for the susceptibilities of Australia, will refrain from pointing out that Australia cannot have it both ways he will find himself mistaken. There will be more plain speaking at this Conference than ever before, and most of it will be done by Britain.