LEAD RETAINED

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 51, 29 August 1934, Page 16

LEAD RETAINED

MITISII COTTON GOODS

A LOCAL EXHIBITION

Speaking at the D.I.C. yesterday afternoon when declaring open an exhibition of British manufactures, Mr. E. Boulter, British Trade Commissioner, said that though Britain faced keen, competition from certain countries, in which lower standards of living made possible law production costs, the Lancashire cotton textile manufactures led the world iv fine and artistic cotton goods, of which the display was well representative.

Mr. Boulter said that it gave him real pleasure to perform the duty of declaring the display open to the public of Wellington. Tho manufacture of cotton textiles'by mechanical means originated in the United Kingdom. It was there that methods were evolved for applying mechanical processes in place of the primitive means by which raw cotton had been spun into yarn and the yarn had been woven into cloth for centuries. It was in the United Kingdom also that this industry had been developed to tho position which it had reached today.

"I have no hesitation in stating that the- United Kingdom remains still tho leading country of the world in tho manufacture) of cotton goods and that she has deservedly retained that position by virtuo of intensive and unceasing research and by application in tho factory of the improvements and developments discovered in the laboratory," said Mr. Boulter. "I wish to emphasise this statement particularly because it has become something of a custom of late to criticise tho main industry of Lancashire. i

"What has actually happened is that in these days of economic nationalism and national self-sufficiency other countries have followed in our footsteps and have encroached upon a field which was at one timo almost reserved for the United Kingdom. In some cases tho lower standards of living accepted, with the resulting cheapness of wages, have enabled such countries to produce cotton goods at a price* with which Lancashire finds it difficult to compete. Such development was perhaps inevitable, but tho point I wish to bring out is that it does not apply to the finest fabrics or the most artistic products of the industry.

"While we may recognise successful competition in the manufacture of the lower and medium grades of cotton goods, wo do contend that when it comes to tho finer fabrics, when it comes to design, and when it comes to finish, 110 one can touch our craftsmen in Lancashire, though many are only too willing to take advantage of their efforts.''

Mr. Boulter congratulated the promoters upon the first-class display they had arranged, and remarked that it came at a very appropriate time. "New difficulties seem to arise every year in developing the trado- of the United Kingdom with New Zealand," ho said. '' This exhibition will serve an extremely useful purpose in that it will show people hero to how wide an extent United Kingdom industry can cater for their requirements and the very reasonable prices at which she is able to do this." PREFERENCE BY BUYEE. The Minister of Trade and Commerce, the Hon. R. Masters, also congratulated the management on its enterprise and upon the splendid display made, and expressed his pleasure at being asked to attend tho opening as a representative of the Government. Tho cotton textile industry, of the United Kingdom had gone through a difficult period, but had taken a turn for the better, which had boon brought about by an internal reorganisation of tho industry, said tho Minister. Now Zealand had to realise that tho United Kingdom was, and always would be, the chief customer for Dominion produce, and even if ono took only a selfish stand it was clearly the duty of New Zealand to assist tho Mother Country as far as possible by buying British goods. New Zealand stood out far ■as regarded preference to British goods, for of goods of a value of £22,000,000 imported, British goods totalled £10,000,000, £5,250,000 came from other British possessions, and £8,250,000 from foreign countries, chiefly petrol, oils, tobacco, and other goods which- Great Britain did not produce. "We give a measure of preference as far as the Government is concerned," said Mr. Masters, "and wo ask you to givo a measure of preference when purchasing—it remains for you to do your part."