Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1934. EMPIRE TRADE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 November 1934, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1934. EMPIRE TRADE.

JT may be magnificent for Sir J. Parr to declare that “Britain is grossly and nn pardon ably ignorant of the Empire. 1 suggest that the Education Department should consider ordering the schools to devote two hours weekly to the Empire’s geography,” but this sort of attack is not likely to be impressive. Britain is far from grossly ignorant of the Empire, if not so familiar with the place-names and peculiarities in the various lands as are the residents of the respective localities. It is safe to say that few schools in Britain average less than two hours’ weekly tuition on Empire geography, and in these days of inter-Empire sporting, aerial, and other events, and the frequent visits to the Homeland of distinguished and other Overseas people, indirect knowledge of the Empire is regularly forthcoming in Britain’s newspapers. A sense of proportion should be retained by Overseas critics, peripatetic and! stay-at-home. Britain has to take] interest in all countries and peoples of the wide-spread Empire. Can New Zealand, for instance, be said to do likewise?

No useful purpose is served by denouncing Britain for fostering her foreign trade which is, at present, greater than her inter-Em-pire commerce. All patriots should help to develop inter-Empire trade, but sentiment alone will not achieve this. Britain could supply as great a case against Overseas for their dealings with foreigners, as they, could against Britain, who has to! buy say from Denmark, if she! wishes the latter to buy from her. If New Zealand could sell to Denmark she would have to buy from her. Having little that Denmark wants, New Zealand finds it diffi-' cult to sell her much, thus, there' is little virtue in New Zealand pre- 1 ference of purchase of British goods before Danish. A similar' argument would apply to the Ar-

gentine and most countries with which New Zealand competes for the British market.

. The British farmer complains of competition from both foreigners ■ and Overseas, and the task of the Homeland Government to satisfy Britons, Overseas and foreigners is difficult. The effort is not made easier by comments such as are made by Sir J. Parr, who, naturally, is obsessed by the desire to obtain all he can for the country he represents. Officials for other Dominions are similarly energetic in pushing the sale of the commodities of their respective countries, and small blame to them. There are limits, however, to the available markets, and Britain should not be ! blamed for errors in policy of j Overseas’ sellers. The Homeland ' has shown a desire to help the Dominions, and it would, be gracious to admit this more frequently in official speeches in Britain by High Commissioners and others.- Denunciation of one’s best customer is not calculated to increase a desire to trade, and it should not be overlooked that if Britain has imposed quotas and restrictions of food-produce, I he Overseas long before set up tariff walls and exchange handicaps on British manufactures.