QUALITY FIRST

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 135, 5 December 1930, Page 14

QUALITY FIRST

"■MADE IN ENGLAND"

FOREIGN COMPETITION

In the course ..of his address at tho inmial meeting-; «f tho British (U.K.) Manufacturers.' Association of New. Zealand yesterday,afternoon, Mr. L. A. Edwards, president, said the ' prosperity, of Now Zealand depended' almost solely upon the prosperity of Great Britain. If we could get that thought solidly into the minds of everyone in the Dominion, it would mean automatically an increase of business and' prosperity. It would not lie a panacea for all our ills, but it would remove sonio of tlio ills from which wo suffered. There had been a good deal said lately about unfair competition from England on the ground, that various goods imported from England were not wholly British. He deprecated a narrow view being taken on that question. The exchange of goods between tho countries of tho world was of paramount importance, and it was essential in our own interests . that we should support Great Britain us far as was economically possible. People were inclined, Mr. Edwards said, to accept slogans without proper investigation. One common slogan was, "New Zealand goods.first,-British goods next, and foreign goods last." The real test was whether the encouragement of tho local production was economically sound. If it was not, it meant the imposition of increased burdens upon the community. Such local factories were conducted under adverse conditions. They had to import their machinery; the management and labour were often inefficient; high' rents and -taxes had to be paid; the output was restricted. Under the existing conditions our manufacturers had to be followers, not originators. If some of such factories worked the whole twentyfour hours daily, and all hands were employed, it meant that the production ■would be beyond the local requirements. That meant waste. We could not export such goods because of our isolated geographical position. • ECONOMIC INDUSTRIES. Tho Government was doing too much in some directions. On the other hand, it would be a good thing.if it set up a non-political body-to inquire into the question of what industries it ■would bo desirable to foster. They might also have an. inquiry into the ■whole transport problem—motor, railway, and sea transport—with the view of eliminating waste. It was the duty of the association to educate the people here, and also to give advice to the British manufacturers as to the class of goods which would meet tho needs of the people here. If the United Kingdom manufacturers lost the good name for quality which they now had, and their name for honest dealing and fair trading, they would lose; the goodwill of the buyers. Mr. .Edwards alluded to the increasing sakTjof British motor-cars, and tho bright' ■■'£■ uture' vof ■ that • industry. Practically all bicycles and; motor-cycles imported were how: British. ."BECAUSE THEY ABE THE BEST." Mr.. LYAt,'PaisV British Trade ConimissioA'w/'^aiij Jther'e was a 'prevailing tendency: for the citizens of every country to tako. a too narrow national view, and endeavour to make their own country an'independent economic unit. It should, be ;; realised that a country like New Zealand must sell its primary products in ■ tho world markets, and at ■world prices. He alluded to the largo holdings of gold by the United States and France, and the-effect that had on general'financial conditions. There had been considerable discussion as to tho reason why Britain did not get a larger share of tho overseas markets of the Empire, notwithstanding preferential tariffs, and tho question of the adaptability of Home manufacturers and the efficiency of British salesmanship had been raised. The speaker analyse" the figures, and pointed out that Britain •was not a competitor in regard to many classes of goods. A good deal had been said about the proportion of British trade in New Zealand. He mentioned flour and wheat, fruit, sugar, timber, and petrol. Britain was not a competitor in regard to these products. Of 48.8 per cent, of imports, 5.6 per cent. were non-competitive. Of the total of competitive imports of • £40,000,000, Great Britain supplied £22,500,000. In the classes in which Britain was strong she had S3 per cent, of the trade. He sometimes wondered why so many of the things that went into the home were of foreign manufacture. ■ Ho reminded agents that there might be some little danger in overdoing the- appeal to sentiment. The first feeling should be that British goods were best, and that people should buy them because they wero the.best.