"BUY BRITISH"

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 121, 18 November 1931, Page 15

"BUY BRITISH"

ACTIVE PROPAGANDA

In his review of the business year of the British. (U.K.) manufacturers' year, the president (Mr. L. A. Ashcroft Edwards) remarks on the. slow return of confidence in business in New Zealand, and he holds that "confidence cannot be restored in New Zealand until a real and a progressive ■improvement is shown iv tho business conditions in the Homeland. A second factor for the inspiration of confidence which is extremely important, though local in effect, is the re-establishment of Bound economic conditions in New Zealand itself. Business men. here are seriously disturbed, as, up to^ the present, there is no evidence that the Government.is coping, .with...this., problem." In reference to tariff obstacles to trade, the president lays it down that a country dependent upon its exports for its prosperity must, of necessity, be an importing country- The more barriers raised to prevent such imports must correspondingly prohibit exports. . . . "There is no evidence that the Government of New Zealand is tackling the problem fundamentally, and money is being spent with the object of expanding secondary industries without inquiring as to their economic necessity."

However, New Zealand is facing the present, difficult economic position that has arisen and reducing costs of production which will help producers to accept lower prices ruling for primary products.

"There is at present an ever-increas-ing tendency to buy United Kingdom goods, and this association takes a I:ii\;-u amount of credit for the movement," affirms the president;

The membership stands at 257; expenditure has exceeded income by £213 16s lOd, due largely to amounts spent on propaganda and establishment of branches. The Golden Arrow exhibition produced £358 for charitable purposes. ■ .: . ...

Sectional reports deal with, the motor trade, Dominion paint manufactures, and duties on paints, hardware, drapery, paper, confectionery, groceries, End provisions, china and glassware, and electrical goods.