"SMALL MERCIES."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 116, 19 May 1933, Page 3

"SMALL MERCIES."

BRITISH IMPORTERS' VIEW. EXCHANGE STILL A HANDICAP. "British manufacturers are grateful for small mercies, and therefore we are pleased to see that as far as the tariff is concerned the Government has at last agreed to remove the preferences given to Australia against Great Britain, aI1( l that now, as regards tariff, both Australia and England will meet on equal terms when trading with this countiy) s»id Mr. John Hielop, president of the United Kingdom Manufacturers' and New Zealand Representatives' Association, when commenting on the subject to-day. Mr. Hislop said he often wondered whether the New Zealand people were really aware of what had been going on during the past few years, and the great handicap that had existed against British trade with New Zealand. "They will, I feel sure," he added, "appreciate the fact that Britain has displayed great patience towards us. Great Britain, as against Australia, however, has still great difficulties in fading with New Zealand on account of the exchange rate, for when the exchange is added to the duty, it puts the commodity produced in Great Britain not only 25 per cent higher than Australia, but in moderate and better class goods it places such goods far beyond the purchasing power of the community, and therefore leaves the trade still to Australia. To adjust this Britain should be given a preference tariff over Australia while the exchange rate is maintained. "Great Britain has submitted to this treatment in spite of the fact that she has remitted £1,750,000 of our debt to her during the past two years. She also takes the bulk of our produce, while Australia takes practically none, and Btill our politicians try to tell us the suggested restrictions of a quota on our exports to Great Britain have no relationship to the exchange difficulties we ha've put in lier way.

"While the tariff revision improves matters somewhat, the alterations are long overdue, and will not rebound to the benefit of British traders to the extent many people imagine."