The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY. SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 1930. THE GREATEST OBSTACLE TO INTER-EMPIRE TRADE.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 11280, 9 August 1930, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY. SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 1930. THE GREATEST OBSTACLE TO INTER-EMPIRE TRADE.

Til a recent address to the Imperial Press Conference, delegates,who were being entertained by the Royal Empire Society, Lord Jelliene pointed oat that, in recent years, Britain had spent £300,000,000 annually on foreign foodstuffs, whereas the Dominions were badly in need of more extensive markets. Taking the ease ot Xew Zealand's primary produce, he mentioned that it did not to-dav bring much more than the cost of production. Similarly, the Dominions, he added, spent something like £000,000,000 on goods which were not produced within the Empire, although the Empire was in a position to provide a large portion of them. R will be noted that Lord Jcllieoe rightly rebuked both the people of Britain and the residents of the Dominions for not displaying greater concern .in respect of eaeli other’s economic: and industrial welfare. When one comes to delve into the matte]’, however, one has to agree that the consumers and users at Home l and abroad in tho Dominions ale net so much to blame as might hr- supposed at a. first glance. More British goods would he used in the Dominions! if the manufacturers and business-folk at Home would step a little out of their way to study the requirements of their kinsfolk overseas. The. excuse that is made in this regard is that it pays manufacturers hotter *to cater for the larger, foreign markets. The position is, however, somewhat different in connection with the demand that people at Home should give preference in respect of tho Dominion’s produce. Until recent years, the. British housewife could not always rely on getting produce grown in the Dominions. In other words, she had no option but buy, in the main, foreign produce. But, now, as a 7'csult of tho publicity - efforts of the various produce boards, New Zealand produce is' being much more widely offered for sale at Home. Here, again-, Ihc inaiil fault lies at the door of the business-folk in the Motherland. It is beyond question that •vested interest's' abroad continue to obstruct preference in larger measure being given to the marketing of the Dominions’ produce. In this connection,'ono has only to look into the matter' of , British' interests in, sav, the Argentine. According to Sir Malcolm Robertson, until recently British Ambassador at Buenos Aires', between £300,000,000 and £000,000.000' of British capital is invested in that country. What is more over 10,000 miles of • 'Argonline railways' are Britisli-owned .and managed, and .Britishers also' control maiiV tramways, and wafer and gas works. In Die'Argentine millions of acres of land, ‘together with millions of cat tie and sheep, are owned by British companies.,. . Sir Malcolm Robertson holds, ■ indeed, that the Argentine though hot in the. Empire, should bo regarded as of if! Ai further significant item of nows is that tho Prince of Wales has been invited -to be pr'esdnt at the opening ot a huge British Industries Fair _at Buenos Airesp which will exceed in wealth of exhibits even that which is being held at' Antwerp- .Tf. British mahufacinri ers could bo moved to take ; ui equally keen interest ,irt these Dominions, ;there would, unquestionably,; be- a heavier demand for' British'goods in these portions of ; the. Empire. Tn ■ circumstances, those! who a-ro fmigaged at Home in the uphill hoik of increasing the sales of Now Zealand produce in the face of the. sheltered fcompefcitioh on the part. of tho Argentine, Denmark and other foieign countries nfcv deserving ' of the greatest creelit front the) ]ii-oducors. -