BRITISH TRADE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 54, 27 November 1917, Page 6

BRITISH TRADE

WELLINGTON REPRESENTATIVES' REPORT. The first annual general meeting of the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Association of British Manfacturers and Agents was held last week in the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. James Macintosh, president of the association, was in the chair.

The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report of the council, stated that the association was formed in June last, and that similar associations had been formed in Auckland, Cliristchurch, and Dunedin. Possibly tho association oould not do very much during tho war period in furtherance of its object, that is, promoting the interests of British trade throughout New Zealand. It was, however, advisable that the organisation should he available and in working order for post-war developments. He extended the thanks of the association to Mr. R. V. Daltou, His Majesty's Trade Commissioner, for his interest in the association, and the advice that he had given at all times. Mr. Dalton, in thanking the chairman for his remarks, gave the meeting interesting information jegarding the associations in other centres. The report stated that the formation of the association had been brought to the notice of the Imperial Board of Trade, and, through that body, to mercantile associations and commercial houses in Great Britain. In the Wellington branch there are at present eighty-one members resident in Wellington, and by last incoming English mail applications for membership were received from British firms. It is confidently expected that in tho near future the membership of British manufacturers will be considerably increased. Following a report that there was to be restriction in the importaj tion of goods which' wera considered non-essential, tho council of the association interviewed Mr. William Ferguson, chairman of the National Efficiency Board. Mr. Ferguson requested the couucil to arrange for the various trade sections to prepare lists of articles which they considered were nonessential, and which interests of national economy could be restricted, and to furnish reports on the general question of restriction of imports. The trade sections were called together, and most of them submitted reports, which have lately been forwarded to tho chairman of the Efficiency Board. Tho general tendency of the reportß was that trade sections were not justified in making recommendations for the restriction of the importation of any articles in which its members were concerned (i.e., British-made goods), but it was decided 1o recommend that if there be restriction that the products of neutrals should first* be restricted, then the products of Allies, and, lastly, British goods.