EMPIRE TRADE

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 15, 19 January 1927, Page 14

EMPIRE TRADE

NEW ZEALAND'S PART

SPEECH BY 'MR. COATES

'FrPm Our Own Con espondent.)

LONDON, 16th November.

The banquet-given in honour of the Imperial' 'Conference delegates by the Federation of: Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire was an imposing function. It was 'held in the Savoy Hotel, and about 500 quests were present. Lord Kylsant presided.. On, his right were :Mr.;s. M. Bruce, Mr. L. S: Amery, Mr. N., C.Havenga (Minister ■of finance, "South' Africa), the ■ Marquess of Beading, and the Maharaja of Burdwan. On his left: the Earl of Birkenhead 'ana.Mr. .Coates.. Other. NewZealanders were Sir Francis Bell, Sir ■ James Parr,; Sir -■ Thomas Mackenzie/Mr. F. D. Thomson, and Mr. C. A. Bere?idson. '.'.■'.■ ■ ■". "-.■'" \ -..-■. ;

Lord Birkeuhqad proposed the principal toast, "The British Dominions Overseas." That morning' at 3.30 he had been engaged in a-conference with tho parties to the mining dispute, and for twelve interminable hours before that. Ho was not, therefore, "in the mood for rhetorical verbosity." It was natural, however, that he. should refer to the great disruption of our industries which for six months had paralysed the economic life of the nation and occasioned so much responsibility and anxiety to those who discharged - the duties of government. Proceeding, Lord Birkenhead referred to the closer understanding that had beon attained between Britain and her oversea possessions, •• even within his political lifetime. • They had,, he said, long since recognised that each of tho Dominions was for all purposes mistress in her own house, preeis.ely on the same terms as in England we were masters in our own house; The ideal of the Empire was that a member of the Empire, whether be was in Winnipeg, or in Sydney, or in New Zealand, or in Dublin or in London, could say, "I am. in no strange city." He believed that by wise and true statecraft iii recent years they had surmounted the greatest of tho difficulties. The time had como for complete and common realisation of the only conditions on which an association of communities such as ours could survive, and in attempting to discharge that_ task . they had learned that tho qualities which were required were sympathy, knowledge, and imagination. He believed that the Imperial Confer•once discusions would lead to a lasting harmony.

MR. COATES ON. EMPIRE TRADE.

Mr. in replying to thu toast, said that one, heard the opinion expressed that the peoplo of Great Britain, and, indeed, of the Empire, were somewhat downhearted about trade and prosperity. He would like to quote figures which he* thought would be helpfuL It was doubtful if the British people took into consideration enough the Empire when instituting comparisons between nations. In commerce, for instance, wonderful as were the resources and activities of that great nation, the United States, one found that if the sum total cf the exports of tho United Kingdom, the Dominions, and India were placed beside hers, they wero considerably greater. The exports of the United States in 1925. were approximately £1,000,000,----000, whereas those of Britain, the Dominions,' and India totalled £1,600----000,000. If to this total were added the exports of the Crown Colonies 'and dependencies they reached a total' approaching double the export figures of the United States. Certainly there was iter-trade involved in the British Empire in such a comparison, but tho figures nevertheless indicated tho overwhelming superiority of the- Empire in productive capacity and resource. If they took only the foreign trade of the Empire they still found that it wa3 greater than that of the United States. One could give similar examples of British supremacy in other directions—in men, money, shipping, mineral and food resources. "My desire," said Mr. Coates, "is to emphasiso how necessary it is we British people should learn to visualise our Empire as one entity in all matters, especially in national competition; and what is ■ more important still, should further every effort for its greater unity. Ideals aro fine, but are better still if they have practical issue." Again, they heard disconcerting tales about the decline of British manufacture. There might bo a temporary re- , lapse, duo largely to the effects of the ' war in various forms. But if .they instituted comparisons again with tho United States they found that in 1925 Britain's exports of manufacured goods were valued at £'616,000,000, while those of tho United States amounted to £515,000,000—a balance in favour of Britain of approximately £100,000,000. ' In this class of production Britain I was still holding her - supremacy. 'Having mentioned, these few facts " ' continued Mr. Coates, "may I ompha-i sise again what has been so-largely in evidence lately, namely, the possibilities that still exist in the Dominions ' and colonies for British trade enterprise. More detailed'figures are being given at the Imperial Conference than i can possibly quote now, though in general terms some may "say that almost half Britain's outward trade is already with the overseas countries of the Empire. And it is'gradually growing m that direction. It is in promoting and influencing trade with the Dominions that the Chambers of Commerce can help. No one can-read of the trade opportunities in the Dominions without being impressed. But there must be ' reasonable enterprise and consideration o± local requirements if foreign competition is to be.mefu I do not want to tell .British manufacturers their business; but I do desire them to know than m my own country there is still a considerable market for them if they will seize the opportunities offered

NEW ZEALAND'S IMPORTS.

■■■■S. 111 th.c ease.of New'; Zealand', though approximately '75 per: cent. of. the imports; come;from-•Empire countries '(ih- ■ eluding; 150 per,cent..from Britain herself), and. we are .the' greatest, 'purchasers per head of British goods, it does not • necessarliy mean ' that all these goods are manufactures. As a matter .of fact, there is still a large field there for competition, in manufactures, .with ...foreigners., Last year ■20 per cent. of. our metal goods came from "foreign countries, half of which represented machinery. Seventeen per cent, of our soft goods also came from toreign sources. In all items the British manufacturer has a heavy. Customs preference, averaging 15 per cent. The sentiment of the people also inclines strongly to ■ British goods. The Government of-New' 'Zealand, and local bodies, pursue ,the policy, 'of accepting British tenders-for heavy machinery, and other materials, even though foreign quotations are considerably lower. As a matter'of fact, in the specifications for the tenders.for the Government railway workshop reconstruction work which is now. proceeding in the Dominion 1 it is set out in one of the clauses that all the material must be British,.which:practically excludes foreign tenderers. This work is running into approximately/ £ 1,500,000, and a

large part of it is already in the hands of.British firms.. ■'"'.•■■

"A great-proportion of the British imports' into New Zealand enter entirely free of any duty: whatever Out of £38,000,000 of British imports into the Dominion last year no less than £19,500,000 entered duty f rco —more than 50 per cent. Another £16,000 000' worth received the advantage of lower duty rates than foreign countries had to pay/ The whole tariff has been scientifically arranged ■ to. foster trade with Britain and the Empire and assist the Empire manufacturers to compote successfully with the foreigner in our country. Naturally we want our industries to grow, but the'great desire is that British goods should be sold in the shops as much as possible, arid that our great machinery installations shouldVbe of-British worknianship.We seek our own markets for our produce chiefly in Britain, and apart from the sentiment of so British a country, we realise that :it is a, "sound buisness. principle to buy from the country' that buys, from us. Just .at present sentiment, is, taking a.-leading place in the matter, because it is realised that circumstances have ham-: pered Britaili's manufacturing trade, and the Dominion desires loyally, .'to do its utmost, small comparatively though that may be, to assist the Mother' Country, which-jhas done so much for it! in the past. And after all, : though 'bur population is but li millions^ we stand twelfth or thirteenth in the list of Britain's.best customers, and buy more from her than European countries of many: times her 'population. We are. proud of the record we hold: in that respect. :'-, . ' . :. : •

"Great though our Empire is today, and important-as is the trade of the Dominions to Britain, it is small in comparison to what the future holds. Now is the time for trade connections to be made, otherwise, if the foreigner obtains a hold of the' young markets it will > very difficult to unloosen the tentacles when jpopulations are many times greater than they are to-day, and consignments are larger and more worth while." ■ ' 85, Fleet street. ' ,