PERSONAL CONTACT

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 286, 17 August 1926, Page 8

PERSONAL CONTACT

DEVELOPMENT OF EMPIRE TRADE “Dominion” Special. Auckland, August 16. The view that New Zealand should have closer personal contact with the United Kingdom and vice versa is held by Mr. P. Macgregor, a vice-president of the Federation of British Industries, who arrived at Auckland by the Niagara from Vancouver to-day. Mr. Macgregor, who is chairman of directors of a large steel and iron manufacturing firm of Sheffield, England, is on a combined holiday and business visit to New Zealand. Mr. Macgregor said that he was very interested in the development of Empire trade. In the past, English business men had been too content to stay at home, but he was not a believer in that policy. He advocated personal contact. The United Kingdom had something like 46 per cent, of the Dominion’s trade in its hands, and so far as he was concerned he had made up his mind to take a share of the other 54 per cent. It was necessary that they should visualise what they had to and conquer. In the past they had allowed geographical position too much consideration, and it was. now time to break down these barriers. Speaking of New Zealand’s representation in Great Britain, Mr. Macgregor said that the Dominion had been very well served in the. past. Sir James Allen, and before him Sir Thomas Mackenzie, had been well respected and had done much for the Dominion. Mr. Macgregor will remain in the Dominion about two months before proceeding to Australia. He will deliver addresses to business men in various parts of the Dominion.