EMPIRE TRADE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 194, 6 May 1918, Page 8

EMPIRE TRADE

BRITAIN'S COMPREHENSIVE PLANS PREPARING FOR POST-WAR COMPETITION Mr. S. W. B. M'Gregor, who has been appointed senior British Trade Commissioner in Australia, in succession to Mr. U. T; Milne (transferred to Montreal), arrived in Melbourne last week. He is an engimcr by profession. His commercial and engineering experience in South America and China be.s been considerable, and, although, ho fas not been in Australia before, he Vns a full realisation of the importance of tho Commonwealth's position from the commercial | viewpoint. Ho regards Jio possibilities iu this country hs immense; its destiny in tho trade of the world a grsat one. Tho change wheh brings him to Australia and sends Mr. Milne to Canada., he says, baa occurred in the natural revolution of tho wheel of tho service. It does not mean any alteration in the policy of fostering trade lelations between England and Australia, hut it happens to coincide with a lcorganisation ot the offico in London. IVrmcrly the Trade Commissioners wero controlled by the commercial intelligence department of the Board of Trade in liondon. Reorganised and strengthened, this department has now been merged into the Department of Overseas Trade (Development and Intelligence), and the control is vested in tho Board of Trade and the Foreign Offico, acting conjointly, with Sir William H. Clark as ControllerGeneral. The new office will give attention to the organisation and development of trade and commerce in Great Britain generally, and will also direct the activities of the Trade Commissioners throughout the Umpire, and the commercial attaches in different foreign countries. Heretofore, the link between the merchants of Australia and England lias been represented by tho Trade Commissioner's office in Melbourne, Sydney having only a branch office. It is proposed in the near future to appoint a trade commissioner to be resident in Sydney. The senior officer will con tinuo in Melbourne.

Mr. M'Gregor states iliat it is recognised in Great Britain that every effort must bo inado to. increase trade, so that tho greatest assistance can be rendered in paying off the gigantic war debt. British manufacturers and merchants are fully alive to the situation. Works and factories have been extended enormously, nud in all •'iimrters improved maohinery has been installed. The industrial efficiency of Great Britain, ho says, has never been greater than it is at present. The introduction of female. labour has proved an unqualified success, and he does not think , it too higli a complimaut to say that without . the cheerful and * loyal work of the women it would have been impossible to .maintain the necessary supply of munitions and war material. There is very little difference, if any, between the pay of male and female workers, munition making being conducted on the piecework system. "I .have been through a number of these factories," Mr. M'Gregor told an interviewer. "Tho workers are all cheerful and well fed. A welfare organisation, which has developed into a strong body, is persistent in its care for tho well-' being of all." ' ■ . ' In tho opinion of the new Trade Commissioner, tho British labour masses have behaved magnificently in a time of great difficulty. They are determined to see the war through to a successful conclusion, and ho is confident that their attitude will be helpful when tho great task of post-bellum reconstruction has to be faced. Various committees are endeavouring to arrive at solutions of tho expected problems. While he admits the great difficulties confronting Great Britain, Mr. M'Gregor believes that sound commou-senss methods will prevail, and that no great disturbance will be heralded by peace. "Great Britain," he remarked, "will certainly bo in a strong position as a manufacturing nntion after the war. But everything depends on' Labour, and we believe Labour is sound at heart and realises its national responsibilities. W T o arc proud of our La•bour in England. Tho people have done their war work thoroughly, and have provided the backbone of tho Army, practically without a murmur. All new munition plants have been designed with tho ultimate adaptation to peace industries in view. It is hoped that much wiil be done in the manufacture of aniline dyes. An explosives factory is very easily aduptnblo to the purposes of making dyes. Germany not only made a great commercial success with aniline (lyes, but when tho war broke out she was immediately able to turn from dyes and other coal-tar products to the- manufacture of high explosives. Germany built her peace factories for war. We have built our war factories for peace. It is felt that the war has mado apparent Britain's enormous financial resources and her capacity for efficient organisation. Wo should get rid of the old bad habit of depreciating ourselves and claim our deservedly great pluco in tho world of trade." Mr. M'Gregor expresses an earnest, hope that the commercial community will co-operate with tho new Department of Overseas Trade and thus bring about trade relationships which will be advantageous to the Empire us a whole.