RECIPROCITY IN TRADE

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21088, 13 February 1934, Page 9

RECIPROCITY IN TRADE

NEW ZEALAND AND GREAT BRITAIN MANUFACTURER'S SURVEY Engaged in making a survey of the dairying industry in its capacity as a market for his firm's separators and light engines, Mr Percy Lister, managing director of the well-known firm of R. A. Lister and Company, Limited, of Dursley, Gloucestershire, is at ! present touring the Dominion, and visited Christchurch during the weekend. Mr Lister has also been exploring ways and means by which trade between New Zealand and Great Britain can be increased, particularly with reference to the dairy industry and the corresponding industrial products of England. "I have had an opportunity of discussing the subject with Ministers of the Crown in New Zealand who are interested in it and with leaders of the co-operative movement here," he said, yesterday, "and my discussions have led me to hope that tangible results may accrue to both parties. It is very apparent that the interests of New Zealand, particularly as regards its dairying industry, are deeply interwoven with those of the Old Country, necessitating the closest economic ties to permit of the Dominion's obtaining, on a reciprocal basis, not only the benefits of economic preferences, but also those of the bonds of sentiment which link the two countries." Advertising New Zealand Produce Mr Lister described the efforts which were being made by his firm to increase the consumption of New Zealand dairy produce in England, on the grounds that by such an increase a better market for the firm's engineering products was assured. His firm was at present engaged in securing the co-operation of other firms in this direction, so that not only the leaders of industry but the employees also should be shown the benefit to be gained for themselves by consuming the produce of the countries which purchased the goods they manufactured. "I think you can rest assured as regards the quota," Mr Lister continued, "that nothing has yet been done by British statesmen which would indicate that England is likely to impose any legislation not conducive to the best interests of the Empire. However, as with trade agreements with other countries, so with trade agreements with the Dominions —the basis of any future inter-Im-perial trade agreements must be reciprocity, as only in this way can the statesmen of England hope to find a satisfactory solution to the Old Country's unemployment problem and produce equitable balances of trade. It is more than ever necessary not only for the consumers of England to 'Buy British,' but for the consumers of the Dominions to do the same." Other Firms Interested Mr Lister said that his firm, with this end in view, had already spent a good deal of money in advertising New Zealand dairy products, and efforts were being made to persuade other firms to do the same thing. His company employed about 1700 men at its main works, and a grand total, with the associated companies, ot about 6000. It was these workers whom it was necessary to interest in New Zealand produce, and they had to b" made to understand that only so long as they bought New Zealand dairy produce could New Zealand go on buying the separators, oil engines, and shearing machines which they manufactured. . "To-day, for the first time in years, said Mr Lister, "England is in a position to negotiate tariff agreements. Since we have adopted a sound tariff policy we have a weapon with which to negotiate reciprocal trade treaties to secure markets for our secondary products, and this should become of the greatest importance." Industrial Recovery Industry in England was undoubtedly improving, Mr Lister added. There was no suggestion of a boom in the movement towards recovery, but that was probably all to the good as the progress being made was sound and steady in all directions. "Our own plant is working day and night shifts, he said, "and we have recently made large additions to our plant, which now includes the largest cream separator factory in the Empire.' Mr Lister has already been about three weeks in New Zealand, and will spend some further time here, the date of his departure being uncertain. He left Christchurch for "Wellington last evening.