"GOOD MAY COME"

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 143, 15 December 1930, Page 13

"GOOD MAY COME"

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

MR. FORBES INTERVIEWED

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, 14th November. Promptly after the Imperial Conference ended to-day Mr.'Forbes made a statement in regard to the attitude of New Zealand to. the economic problems that had been under discussion. "Good will doubtless come out of the Conference," he said, "if only for the frank exchange of opinions, the personal contacts, and the careful consideration we have given to each other's viewpoints. I have no doubt also that the concentration upon Empire. problems which has resulted from the Conference will have been of educational and informative value to the people of the Empire. "New Zealand has been chiefly concerned with the economic side of the Conference. Constitutional questions occupy our thoughts very little. Our ties of sentiment with the Motherland and with the Empire generally require no strengthening or safeguarding. We would like, however, to have come closer together in regard to our mutual trade. Britain is our chief market, and we now see it lying open to countries wherein the standard of living is so much .lower than in New Zealand. From what we can gather, Russia, for instance, is devoting herself to the future exploitation of the British market, and she can bring national organisations and resources to bear that may prove overwhelming. We feel that our share of a market—-which'we have built up since infancy—is in danger of being, jeopardised, and. we would like to have some practical safeguard, or definite policy in view, that will reassure us as to the future, if we are to continue as in the past. This matter has been brought home to us by the present market crisis in regard to some of our staple products. FOEEIGNEK B.EAPS THE HARVEST. "There is also the fact that upon the extent of our sales to Britain depends our capacity to buy from her. If our market returns fall away we shall not have the purchasing power. We are striving to increase our purchases from Britain, but we find the foreigner is largely reaping the harvest and reducing the amount'of money available for us to spend on British manufactures. "But we have not lost heart. Wo shall continue to do our best, depending upon the outstanding quality of our goods, and hoping that the sentimental preference for Empire goods will strengthen and increase. We are passing through difficult times. No one knows how long they will last, but if we are to weather the storm we must stand shoulder to shoulder in our mutual trade interests. "In the young overseas countries production is rapidly increasing, and markets require to be found for the commodities. We prefer to retain the British market. But markets we must have if we are to develop. Wo feel that it J ia equally important for Britain that our future market should remain here, because, as I have already said, we can then continue to buy her goods in like ratio. We make financial sacrifices already in placing contracts with British manufacturers in preference to going for cheaper goods from the foreigner; and we also, in all public contracts, frame our specifications on British standards, which practice actually confers a further very substantial preference. ONE UNITED FRONT. "In the war, when crises l arose and the safety of the Empire was imperilled, the Empire presented one united front. Surely in times of peace, yet of economic stress, it is just as necessary for all members of the family to show the same unity in trade and commerce! The Empire has the resources and the capacity to overcome present economic difficulties and depressions if only the way can be found. "I would like again to make it clear that we recognise that it iB tho right of the people of the United Kingdom to decide their policy to meet their own necessities, and we make no complaint that the Home Government has found if impossible to depart from their policy of Free Trade. We accept this position, and wish to make it quite clear that our regrets will cause no manner of difference in our attitude or in our policy to this country. We shall leave no stone unturned to maintain and strengthen the already existing sentiment in tho Dominion in favour of buying in the British market. I feel sure that in this I am expressing the sentiment of the whole New Zealand community." i