TRADE WITH SCOTLAND

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 94, 4 April 1934, Page 3

TRADE WITH SCOTLAND

Dominions Approached EXPORTS FROM THE CLYDE An increase in the volume of Scottish exports to the Dominion is foreshadowed by negotiations which have been initiated on behalf of the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and the Clyde Trust. The object of the negotiations, which are in the hands of Sir A. Steven Bilsland, president of the Chamber of Commerce, and Mr. Harold M. Ford, commercial manager of the Clyde Trust, is to secure co-operation with Dominions representatives in London so that business visitors from the Dominions will be put into touch with industrial and trade interests in Scotland. Sir Steven Bilsland, in an interview with tho “Glasgow Herald,” pointed out that reciprocity in trading between the Dominions and the Clyde was becoming a necessity, for with the development which had taken place with some of the Dominions in the last three years it was becoming increasingly important, to get cargo both ways. He had himself been much impressed with the need for doing everything possible to take advantage of the Ottawa agreement. VISITORS FROM DOMINIONS.

“In the course of last week,” Sir Steven said, “Mr. Ford and I met the High Commissioners for Australia, New Zealand and the Union of South Africa, and the Agents-General for Victoria, South Australia and Queensland. We are arranging to meet the representatives of India, Canada, New South Wales, AVestcrn Australia., ana the colonies. The object of our visit, was to secure co-operation towards the devising of some means whereby visitors from the respective Empire countries who have business to place in this country might be put into touch with us here in Glasgow, whether they come in connection with actual orders or contracts, or whether they seek representation of British manufacturers.

“I was told that every year 30.000 visitors came to this country from Australia -and New Zealand alone, and there are certainly strong ties of attachment throughout the Empire to Scotland. At present the great bulk of visitors from tho Empire discuss their business with London buying houses, with the result that the groat industrial area of the West of Scotland has little chance either of placing before them its products or of receiving the opportunity of co-operating In their business.

“That great, army of visitors,” Sir Steven concluded, “provides a great opportunity, which we must explore and utilise. In the course of discussions the proposals made by Mr. Fbrd and myself were most heartily received bv all the Dominions representatives. All of them, without exception, were agreed that by co-operation with their respective offices much might be accomplished toward developing trade in Scottish with their markets. They promised co-operation in every way with the object of affording our manufacturing interests the same opportunities as are enjoyed by those located in London nnd the South. On all hands they realised that Scotland has made such headway in the development of their trade that it is urgently necessary that she should have her due share in the trade which they have to offer. ’ ’ SHIPS IN BALLAST. Mr. Ford said that within the last , three years Glasgow’s shipping trade 1 with Australia had been trebled and i that with New Zealand had been doubled. The Clyde Trust was also on the verge of an important development with South Africa. It was essential, however, that, there should be freights both ways. Last year, with :.a increase of 15 vessels into the Clyde from Australia. 78 per cent, of the total sailed out of the port under ballast, and in the ease of New Zealand 92 per cent, loft the harbour empty. When one considered the risk to shipowners of placing their big refrigerated liners on the berth for Glasgow, with little and in many cases no i hope of return cargoes, it was obvious that everything must be done to revive and create export trade from Scotland to Empire countries. It was i for that reason that Sir Steven BilsI land and he had visited London, and i perhaps the most encouraging result of their conversations was that the Domiions representatives fully realised the seriousness of that, position.