NEW PRODUCTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21148, 16 July 1943, Page 5

NEW PRODUCTS

BRITISH INDUSTRY BUYING AND SELLING Reference to probable lines of British industrial development after the war was made by the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom, Sir Harry Batterbee, in an address to the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce. It. would be idle not to recognise Ihe fact, he said, that the period of the war had seen important industrial developments in countries to which British manufacturers formerly shipped their products. This fact would have to be faced when they were in a poistion to export freely again. “We shall, of course, seek to regain Ihe trade we formerly enjoyed in what may be described as our staple exports,” said Sir Harry. “By this I mean such goods as textiles, metals, machinery, tools, chemicals, earthenware, glass, paper, motor cars, tyres, and so on. But there will undoubtedly be many new products introduced as the result of the scientific progress made during the war. To give a few examples, I may mention television, plastics, diesel engines, optical glass, and radio apparatus. I think it will be found that Britain is in a position to hold her own when il; becomes possible to export such articles in friendly rivalry with other countries. Trade does not remain static in its nature for long periods. Demands for something different are always arising. And as regards manufacturing developments in other countries, British manufacturers have been continually facing a similar situation for many years. It has been found that the establishment of a new industry creates demands ol a new type to replace thos being met from local production.” With the increased volume of world trade which the United Nations were seeking to promote after the war. Sir Harry Batterbee continued, a logical and desirable consequence would be an increased demand for raw materials and the tapping of sources which had not yet been exploited. This process in turn would produce a higher level of prosperity in the territories from which raw materials could be obtained, with a rise in the purchasing power and they might hope, an increased demand for some of the goods which Britain produces.