THE EMPIRE'S TRADE

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 625, 30 September 1909, Page 7

THE EMPIRE'S TRADE

; BRITAJN-AUSTRALIA, ; INCREASE IN FOREIGN IMPORTS. -".[■-. ' f v:.; PREFERENCE.'' :' (By. Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright.) ~.;;:/..;..;. Melbourne,, September 29. Tho Federal Minister for Trade and Customs, Senator-Sir Robert Best, in a memorandum dealing with Australian preference to British goods,, says:—, ..- ■ •'... ' v',. ■ "Apart altogether from sentimental considerations of kinship, we consider that every pound sterling diverted from the Empire's own trado is so muoh,potential energy absolutely wasted, It. is with grave misgiving that we fitfd our trado slowly, but surely decreasing, and that moro and more each year wo. aro '-.dependent bpon foreign countries. This diversion of employment and tho profits of industry cannot be treated with indifference. It is an insidious rotrogrossioii, - endangering the welfare of tho . Empire and contributing to tho wealth and prosperity of its competitors." . Comparing Australia's importations last, year; with thosdof 1880, the Minister claims that'Britain's'.share should have been ten millions; moro. had she' retained her due" propor-. tion. Tho only explanation of the falling away is the keen methods of Britain's rivals, .who so far have been treated by. her manufacturers na a'6omcwhat.ficgligiblo quantity. .:.'■.• Sir Robert Best quotes figures to show that Australian preference has already to some extent bonefited. the British manufacturer.'. So suggests tho necessity for. a keener, interest oh tliu part,of. tho'representatives of' British industries' in :the methods of foreign competition, arid o- more'familiar acquaintance, with Australia's particular' requirements,- and.a full oxpiession of: opinion ' on. tho; part.of British manufacturers as ,to. tho -, existing ; preferential .tariff.. ; v' : :. xr : : ' v .'"' : '-•;':'■; '''' :: : Without ;m.ntual.interests,'mutual'trade preference to -pUr 'own.' raco,' and success against foreign competition, the Minister says ho fears future danger tbitho power and prosperity of the • Empire.; v■•''■•'■■'' : '-f;:!''...-•'.,!■'•:;.' ;'"■■':.'■■ '■..:,■';•''■..."■■■:■ h- hArknes's; on preference.' ;' ':■> -: : ..vebplt ! .'to.;. criticism/ ' ':' .-. ;; :.;''TAk : *pN ! ARGENTINE .BUTTER; -..:' - Mr., J.- G.-Horl-ness," P.residont of tho -Wellington Chamber bf Commerce, and secretary of the National Dairy Association, arrived back yesterday -. frdin 'Sydney, ijrhero. he : had , been representing the Wellington Chamber of Commerce at ..the : Conference. of Chambers in :Austrhlia. > :,■ ,-'-; .'.-'.-.: ... ~'.■' '...',■•"■':.". ; :': In an interview;.with; a Dominion, reporter, I Mr.. Hatkness- said ho bad not yet had an opportunity, ;'. of; . reading.- -the'-' Dominion's criticism of nis'.remarks. on ' Imperial:.,reciprocity at the conference, but ho hud learned dn arrival:at' tho Dominion - had published &•' hostile criticism in a leading drtiqfei.',.;'..r.'-.'-',i,v'.-r ■■''■'' ',-' -.:- .-■"■■■:■■[ :..-,;..: ■■■■ "I-'.'nm very,..much"obliged,"' ho said, "to TiißDoMrNloN.forits criticism; for it does us all good:: to: be: criticised,;-The .Dominion, I think, said:. 1 <did not- express... tho: views of New; Zealanders<in/asking for. reciprocity. from tho Old Country,■: Well, if that is not the -View .of the; majority.; of, New Zcalanders, I really don't, understand-what'our position is. The delegates from' Wellington went over with instructions-::frottV tho Wellington '■: Chamber of Commerce . to", strongly' support' preference— re-' tiprocity .throughout-thsiEmpire. 7 Andi-when you .comb, to: consider: that: wo' ore- giving,' bylegislation, passed by,.tho representatives'.of tho. people, from: 20* to' SO : per dent.', preference t0..-English-made against foreign,goods, surely that pdicy. expresses the. voice 'of the people.; Whydo we give -preference to English goods?, pimply', because '.Wo' expect' to'get'an fixchange. frpiiiy her-tfl. prepare, "for' '.reciprocity within irtbe",, Empiro.'.,Pree-trado ? 6Rtt l^ :^ 0 -'*" h " ft to;sail,- Tho Old, Country hasn't -ireo'.-exchange' •with -foreign,,.countries, to-day.--.Ten or..fifteen years W.-MIM eyery.,iiooo.. worth.of. foroign trade, tho Old, Cointryiad '.£2OO .worth.'- Now : Mr•.sllare',':lS'orly.Je^S().^',•'■'.'•■■■■'''■'- ; i■': , •' ■■;' ■. i'referonee.;. w'ould,-.; perhaps,"'benefit;; -ybur friends the dairy-farmers? '.-•■-.'.' .:.:,•■ '-.""' •v^iW'i on l ?fV°ir- ; eMef\ competitorsin 'the fc S i S \^' l o k: 'U ,s l Ar^ nti . na ; -Situated as,she s, in the .Southern -Hemisphere,, shb'. is mat ing dairy .prtduco, at the: same time of year ,4s we.nrei ~bhe,-has, t he great:advantage of beinE:oidy, half.;as.far from the British market as wo .are. We' are.12,000:.t0 13,000-miles .distint...English,Capital?,-tes,,l know-t ha 't tho, ry produce trade has been : by English- capital: But, :wtilo wo dro hofcgoing to (liotate. to.tho English finan-' h s : ''^ pon -^ c,M ' that have-to contribute toward the maintenance of the-Em--s'&' n f qu( contribution toward' naval a/S JTV :n F ht ' e T en in this matte? of Argentine butter,, fo: preference."- ' --';*-.-. •'■; And Argentine:mutton?:^■ ■• ■■:' ' ''. |ut^:fS h^&^^ the German -market altor-other • -R« ! S. £ t customer,:is it?,: recinrodW w n Sl^ cst the -German^trade?""(J > Z™ , iCf^v--*T »rgun,ent of opponents prof eronl'" t ' what would be fho./effect on BritisFtradf f