IMPERIAL TRADE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 4155, 4 February 1916, Page 5

IMPERIAL TRADE.

IMPORTS FROM GERMANY

A STRIKING INQUIRY

LONDON, Fob. 2. Mr li. unci man has issued the report of the Commercial Intelligence Committee of the Board of Trade, of whic h Mr Algernon Firth is chairman. The inquiry was largely the result of Sir Thos. Mackenzie’s representations The committee since July has been investigating trade with a view to.providing a basjg of comprehensive treatment of post-war problems, especially concerning the Dominions and the Allies. The evidence was particularly directed to the paper, cutlery, factory leather, glassware, china, earthware, electrical apparatus, manufacture of printing stationery, jewellery, brushware, and hardware trades. Striking figures as to enemy goods in these classes, amounting to £80,173,000 are given as included in the imports into Britain in 1913, of which £15,975,000 was estimated as for the five selfgoverning Dominions. India in 1913 imported three million pounds sterling of similar Austro-German goods.

FURTH ER RECOMMENDATIONS. (Received Feb. 3, 9.50 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 3. The trade report continues: — Gorman potteries received Cornwall and Devon clays at 3s per ton cheaper than they could be transported to the British potteries. Child labor and low wages also have given an advantage t-o Germany, as is evidenced by Gorman workmen working longer hours and paying greater attention,to their work than tho British. The electrical firms recommended a unification of the Empire’s patent laws.

•Tariff protection is the most important question investigated. It was generally feared that after the war Britain would he flooded by AustroGerman goods at any price, thus accentuating the previous competition and involving disaster on British manufacturers who have been encouraged to extend their operations with a view to capturing enemy trade. The committee recommends that the Trade Commissions', which have been found satisfactory in the Dominions, ought to be extended to foreign countries and the Consular service ought to he reorganised, by increasing its commercial utility. Austro-German goods imported ought to be marked “Made in Germany,” and other foreign goods should he marked. “Not British.” A tribunal ought ,to prevent British shipowners and railway companies giving preference to traders in other countries. Ship companies ought to be prohibited from charging higher rates from Britain than from the north of Europe. The committee' recommended the establishment of a Ministry of Commerce respecting goods of vital importance to the national safety, whose manufacture has fallen into hands outside Britain. Tariff protection ought to be afforded Britishers ready to manufacture the same as as to enable them to maintain production after the war. A strong desire exists to respond to the feeling of the Dominions in favor of Imperial trade preference, also with the Allies. A larger proportion of revenue ought to be derived from import duties. Sir Albert Spicer signs the report, and adds a reservation pointing out that the industries investigated exclude many of our greatest. He deprecates immediate protection and says the war itself is an automatic protection and prejudice against Austro-German goods, and is likely to act as a protection for some years after _ the war. He hopes the whole question will be considered after the war in the light of an agreed policy with the Dominions and the Allies.

EMPIRE’S INDUSTRIES.

EXPANSION ESSENTIAL

THE GERMAN MENACE.

POSITION IN NEAY ZEALAND

In the course of his presidential address at the annual meeting and conference of the New Zealand Industrial Corporation in Christchurch, the chairman, Mr J. B. Laurenson, said it would be easy to deluge the delegates with more or less interesting figures dealing with the Dominion’s industries and the effect on the prosperity of the individual, and in normal times such information was alwaysunstructive, but the war had put the whole world in the melting pot. It depended on their own actions and attitudes whether they emerged from the trial a better people with higher ideals of life or failed to stand the test. He was satisfied that the people who were regularly and continually employed at good wages would be the dominant race. History was strewn with records of empires which had passed away because their basis rested either on slavery or poverty for the bulk of the people. Private and public charity (and in the latter he included relief and co-operation works) ns a means of raising a nation were worse than useless. The first lowered one’s self-respect and the second did not give the fruits of his labor to the individual. Industrial enterprise and expansion alone would solve the great question of regular and profitable employment to every man and woman. They must see that their industrial life grew with the growth of population. The industrial life of the Dominion was not and never had been satisfactory and it was ‘ up co” the Industrial Corporation of New Zealand to load a Dominion movement for placing the industries on a sure and progressive basis. LABOR AND TARIFFS BOGEY. “That the latent wealth of New Zealand is enormous,” said Mr Laurenson, “is well known. We have everything necessary in the way of land and. raw material for manufacturing, but unfortunately, we, as a people, have been educated to rely on imports. The bogey of labor and tariffs has frightened us and we have failed to understand that regular and profitable employment is the cure for the former and loyalty to our own productions render any tariff harmless. This war is imposing very great burdens on the Empire, but the greatest brains are required now and after the war to so safeguard our present industries and see to the establishment of others as will render it impossible for our enemies to exploit our markets in the future. This is a subject that should engage our earnest attention. It is one of vital importance to ourselves and those who como after us. The question is. not easy of solution, but I am certain it we approach the matter in a reasonable spirit the difficulties will be overcome. At the outset we must harness science and industry together. Although our manufacturers are progressive they have not taken full advantage of our colleges, nor consulted our professors as they should have done. There are professors at Canterbury College willing and able to advise and direct manufacturers, but how seldom is their assistance sought? I maintain that we should not expect the public to buy goods simply because they are of New Zealand manufacture. They should buy them because they are as good, or better, than our competitors. On these lines alone can we hope to progress.

GOVERNMENT NEGLECT. “I do not say,” Mr Laurenson continued, “that manufacturers are. fully considered by the Government. This reproach can he removed by a Government department, containing the mrvt highly trained experts on research. As an illustration I would remind you that our arch-enemy-Germany—can place at the disposal of even a- small manufacturing concern the highest trained intelligence in any

particular line at a figure within the reach of small capital. Men who in the British Empire can command a salary of many hundreds per annum are to he secured in Germany at a few pounds per week. Ido not, in mentioning this, suggest for a moment that we should allow such a state of tilings here, but merely it out to show how great a start the German manufacturer has. Further, he has the great assistance of a scientifically constructed tariff of offence and defence, designed for the express purpose of assisting him while protecting the consumer at home. Ido not require to point out to you the almost unbelievable progress Germany has made during the last 30 or 40 years. The official figures are so great as to lead one to sav that the present war is really the salvation of the British Empire. Had the German curbed his wish for war and devoted his energies to capturing the world's markets, lie could have been master of the world s commerce in 50 to 100 years. The war is, however, welding us mto an Empire which should, if we are wise and reasonable, enable us to meet all fair competition and successfully figlit any unfair competition. This task lies before ns. and the Industrial Corporation of New Zealand should hear its part. I submit the matter for the careful consideration of the incoming executive, with a suggestion that the Government should be strongly urged to take advantage of those best equipped to advise'them.” (Applause.)