TRADE IN WARTIME

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 113, 14 May 1940, Page 10

TRADE IN WARTIME

BRITISH EXPORTS

THE CALL FOR SUPPORT

"Evening Post," May 14.

.Latest London mail advices by air indicate that the British Export Council has expressed itself as well satisfied with the rate of progress being made in the formation of export groups. Up to April 13 last 33 groups, covering exports ranging from boilers to •whisky, had been formed and 12 were in process of formation. Other industries will come in later. The Government aims at securing the greatest possible expansion of United Kingdom export trade and the organisation of this big task has been entrusted to the Export Council. The good will that exists for British trade and the ready demand which still holds for many classes of goods provides the opportunity for success. The Export Council, including as it does highly-placed representatives from the various Government Departments concerned with the economic front, can assure co-ordination in respect of all "considerations relative to the issue of export licences, raw materials, foreign exchange, and other matters. But it is to the executive committee of the Council, under the chairmanship of Mr. F D'Arcy Cooper, who is also chairman of Lever Bros, and Unilever, that the Government looks in the matter of organisation for export and for day-to-day contact with industry. Each industry in considering export development has problems of raw materials, prices, distribution, and markets which are highly specialised. It is, vital, therefore, that each industry should have an export committee or group. The Export Council co-oper-ates with such groups and delegates to them the detailed work with individual firms which is involved in the national export drive. ASPECTS OF THE PROBLEM. An executive member of the Export Council personally discusses with each group the main lines of the wartime export policy of its trade. The questions include considerations relating to particular markets, foreign exchange, political and commercial relations, and questions of economic warfare. These and all other aspects of the problem are thoroughly covered and guidance eiven to the industry concerned. A liaison exists between the groups and the Board of Trade for supervising the day-to-day operation of the agreed measures, and, where necessary, machinery is created for export ordens under plans worked out with the Ministry of Supply and the appropriate Controllers. Whatever may be involved in achieving the objective—whether it be the organisation of production as between export and other orders or the coordination of individual units—will be similarly carried through by the export groups with the central aid and stimulus of the Export Council and the Board of Trade. • Should - exceptional circumstances arise in particular trades or over the whole field, the Council places no limit to the expedients it would be tjret)ared to consider. I! It; is, supplies of textile goods for the British home trade are being cut down-and 75 per cent, of 1939 requirements Of cotton. and rayon and 25 per cent, of linen will be available. People who can do so have been urged to economise in clothing, and wear garments for longer periods than they have been accustomed to do. AUSTRALIAN SYMPATHY. The Associate Chambers of Commerce of Australia, recently. sitting -n Sydney, resolved to join with other organisations in Australia m expressing the hope that during the war the Australian community would do all in us power to purchase its overseas requirements from the United Kingdom. The adoption of the motion followed a lengthy debate, during which the Commonwealth's wartime . trading policy was dealt with. It was urged that Australian manufacturers should be prepared, if necessary, to sacrifice some of their own interests to keep Britain's export trade. The conference agreed, however, that Australian industries should not be prejudiced by lack of necessary raw materials from overAnother motion carried affirmed that the conference, while realising the urgent necessity to conserve non-ster-ling exchange, believed the Australian Customs (Import Licensing) regulations at present operating were reacting to the detriment of many importers from non-sterling countries. The conference urged that the regulations be amended by substituting a plan to regulate essential imports on a monetary basis through the medium of exchange control rather than on the present basis of the nature of goods to be imported.