TRADE PROSPECTS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 54, 12 September 1928, Page 11

TRADE PROSPECTS

BRITAIN AND DOMINION AN OPTBIISTIC NOTE ' (From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, 29th June. Mr. L. B. Beale (British Trade Commissioner for New Zealand), in concluding a visit to Bradford, gave some of his views on trade to a representative o£ the "Yorkshire Post." . . "I do not like talking in too optimistic a vein," said Mr. Beale. "I can assure you, however, that New Zealand's purchasing power to-day is very much better than it was a year or two ago—in fact, its position is better than at any time since tho war. Most of us are well aware that New Zealand is the biggest purchaser of British goods per head of the population of any country in the world. Of the total imports of New Zealand, more than 50 per cent, come from the United Kingdom, and, with regard to textiles containing wool, almost 90 per cent, of New Zealand's purchases come from this country. New Zealand's economic position is much better than it was twelve months ago, when the country had an external trade balance against her of £2,500,000, whereas now she has a. credit balance on external trade of £10,500,000. This is due largely to increased production in butter, cheese, lambs, and wool." Mr. Beale said ho believed that Great Britain was manufacturing better than she ever did, but lie thought she would have to pay greater attention to marketing her products. Chambers of Commerce, he added, were doing splendid work in the country, and had proved most helpful to him, aa in the case of Bradford. Again emphasising the prospects of increased trade between New Zealand and [ this country, Mr. Beale stressed that they wanted goods suitable to their needs at a price they could afford to pay, and if the United Kingdom will bear that always in mind, there was no doubt about the future of trade between tho two countries. On Wednesday evening lust Mr. Beale gave an address about New Zealand trade f^'oin the London Broadcasting Station.