EMPIRE TRADE LINKS

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 58, 6 September 1916, Page 6

EMPIRE TRADE LINKS

Reassuring proof of the restoration of the trade between the United Kingdom and the Dominions is furnished by the British Trade Commissioner in New Zealand (Mr. Dalton) in returns of British exports to this country. The periods covered are the six months ending 30th June, 1914,. 1915, and 1916. Comparing the first (a pre-war period) with the last it will be found that the values of the exports are not only about equal in many cases, but in others are much greater. Prices have enhanced all round, so that it does not follow that even if the values have increased the volume is greater; but the returns show conclusively enough that the links in 'trade relations that were broken by the war are being re-welded, and that the connection will be greater than ever. It has to be remembered that when the war broke out all Britain had to concentrate upon it. Men had to drill and to fight, and millions answered the call. The'-factories and workshops had to turn over from making articles of peaceful trade to fashioning the deadly instruments of war;, the ships had to carry armies and the. supplies of armies instead of merchantable cargoes—and it is still going on. Nevertheless, British manufacturers and traders, heavily handicapped as they are still, have succeeded in holding the broken ends of Empire commerce together, and tlie cords are stronger than they were a year ago. A little more patience, a little more practical patriotism in insisting, wherever possible, upon British goods only until the present inevitable hindrances to the export trade are removed, is all that is asked. This will nob only help to end the present war of arms, but" will the better and speedier prepare the British people the world over for the fierce conflict of trade, of which there is every prospect, when the warring nations lay down their arms.