TRADE REVIEW

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 171, 19 April 1928, Page 6

TRADE REVIEW

MOVE TOWARDS INDUSTRIAL PEACE , VITAL QUESTION OF TRANSPORT ADDRESS BY MR. C. M. BOWDEN “As good subjects of His Majesty the King, we acknowledge the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York to have been the outstanding event of the past year. As staunch Imperialists, second only to it was the visit of the Right Hon. L. S. Amery. . . In world’s affairs, the Economic Conference, the Disarmament Conference, the 3-Power Naval Conference, and the fracture of relations with the Soviet by China and England might bo mentioned; and any review of Imperial affairs’ would be incomplete without reference to the settlement of the flag dispute in South Africa, and the aopointment of’ the Indian Government Commission.”

The above views were expressed by the chairman of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce (Mr. C. M. Bowden) at the annual meeting of that body. "Dependent as we are on overseas markets (and we cannot at any time ignore that fact),’’ he proceeded, "we may be affected by all the above; but I venture to say that there was ( evidenced last year a movement which may bo more imnortant than any of them, viz., developments toward industrial peace. The great conference held in Loudon toward Hie end of the year between representatives of management and of Labour was a happy augury of better relations. We, too, are holding our conference, and trust that happier relations will result. Expenditure on Education. “Is it not time that a halt was called in connection with expenditure on education along certain lir-JS?” asked the speaker. "I am very dubious of the success of the free-place system at secondary (jchools—in a great many eases it appears unwise and uneconomic; its effect being merely to unsettle our young men and either unfit them for trades. or postpone for two or three years their entry into their eventual avocations—without any permanent acquisition of useful or cultural knowledge. "Might it not he better for increased grants to be made for technical schools, the establishment of vocational workshops; or extension of Hie system of vocational guidance carried out by the officials of the Labour Department—provided that the extension of technical training does not outstrip the available absorption capacity of the various trades ? Vital Question of Transport. "I make no apology for bringing up this question of transport,” continued Mr. Bowden, “holding it to be one of the most vital subjects before us at present. It falls naturally into two divisions, viz., (a) the conflict or co-ordina-tion of railway and highway services, and (b) the best utilisation of our shipping services. As io the former, it- is idle to think that tho problem is peculiar to New Zealand. It is common to all nations. “In presenting bis last annual Railway statement, our Prime Minister foreshadowed transport control through a properly constituted Ministry of Transport, but no further announcement has been made. If tho proposal means ihe establishment of a new Government Department. if, will be strenuously opposed—but if it means a comprehiasive inquiry by an impartial board, the expenditure would be a, wise invfstment. Besides the Railway Department and tho master carriers there are various interested parties, c.g., harbour boards, road boards, the Highways Board, shipping companies, and motor services. "As to shipping, I have previously indicated ihe high toll taken of our primary producers by the second-class ports of New Zealand. It would probably pay to load and discharge only nt firstchiss central ports, nnd at 'and from these gather or distribute bv fiftil, road, or coastal transhipment. The .quicker ‘turn round’ of overseas vessels and the avoidance of the dangers of roadsteads would enable reductions to be made in freight and insiri-ance rates.” Reciprocal Tariff With Australia. Ho went oh to refer to the visit to Now Zealand of the Minister of Customs of the Government; of Australia, and said that” tho results of Mr. Pratten’s visit had not been what the people of New Zealand bad iioped for. ‘‘Admittedly, th'e position is extraordinarily difficult,” declared Mr.. Bowden; “both Commonwealbh and Dominion produce substantially the same classes of goods, and the free How into either country of produce of the other is not desired by the producers of the importing country—not unnanaturally, they wish their home market to be conserved to them. Conditions are not quite parallel, tho proportion of production of each groui> of industry varying considerably as between Australia and New Zealand—and manufacturing in Australia has been developed to a greater extent than in New Zealand. The speaker went on to quote figures which he maintained indicated that Australia was more self contained than New Zealand; Australia consumed more of its own total production than did New Zealand; the Dominion was more dependent upon external trade than was Australia; and Australia’s manufacturing production was greater (iu proportion’ than New Zealand’s. Australia's substantial advance in manufactures was attributable in no small measure to the dgree of’ protection afforded by her Customs tariffs, and the primary producer in his turn sought and obtained protection. As the bulk of New Zealand’s exports to Australia were of primary products, it followed that New Zealand growers were penalised to the point of being unable to com-, pete. If the conference between the representatives of the two Governments had not solved the problem, the people of this country must sympathetically realise the difficulties. Free Trade v. Protection. ’ "I do not advocate free trade or suggest thfit we forthwith lower our. tariff wall,” proceeded Mr. Bowden. "I am well aware of the legitimate claims ot young industries for protection, and desire to see manufacturers in the Dominion develop in harmony with expansion of the primary industries and the true secondary industries. But Ido wish to direct your minds to the tendency in the Old World to reduce tariff walls, and remove other barriers to the free flow of commerce between nations — and at least we should not allow our tariff walls to be built up any higher than nt present "Before leavimr this subject, may I refer to the forthcoming visit to Australia of a British delegation of four eminent bnsines men to confer upon the develppment of Anetralia’s resources and other matters of economic interest to Great Britain and Australia. That eminent man of Australia, Mr. S. M. Bruce, sees the need of co-ordui-aiiii" the industrial forces of the Empire. Though probably not for a 1 moment nrtmitling the feasibility of a free trade British Empire unit, bo apparently hones fo develop the onerations of British I’]-dust-ialists ’ within Australia’s _ tariff walls, and H’" s assist in the distribution of t.l’e tnnunfnctnrimr resources of the Empire, under a plan of Eninire Ec°notnie Union. Nevertheless, the J”?' 1 ’ wages, short hours, ami em»nnn>l ivelv low efficiencv in Australia will, in m. T opinion, prevent that country from becoming an important exporter of ™nmifncturod oonds. The exclusion of Brills roods also renders it the more dimciin for Britain to pnv for the wool, wheat, meat and dairy produce exported from Australia. No country can be an exporter solely. Trade must flow both ways.”