The Star. THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 1914. THE PROMOTION OF TRADE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 5 March 1914, Page 4

The Star.

THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 1914. THE PROMOTION OF TRADE.

Delivered every evening by 5 o'clook in Hawera, MaDaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake-. Otakeho, Manutahi, Alton, Hurley ville. Patea. Waverley.

At its Monday night's meeting, the Hawera Chamber of Commerce received an unusually interesting communication from Mr F. S. Pope, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Industries, and Commerce. "I have (he said to the chairman and members of the Chamber) pleasure in informing you that, as the result of correspondence with the British Government, arrangements have been made for the establishment of more intimate relations betweeen the British Consular Service and the Dominion of New Zealand, so as to assist the trade and commerce of the Dominion with foreign countries. One of the concessions made by the British Government is that any New Zealand firm will be at liberty to apply direct to any of his Majesty's Consuls for information as to the possibilities of the sale of New Zealand products, the method under which business is conducted, and the best means of getting into touch with markets. The fullest possible assistance will be accorded in these matters, subject, of course, to the recognition of the principle that the Consuls are primarily commissioned to serve the trade of the United Kingdom. The list of Consuls is on hand in this Department, and should any firms desire to take advantage of the above arrangements I shall Ibe pleased to answer enquiries. I may mention, further, that the British Government will, on request, supply the New Zealand Government with copies of trade reports from the Consular Service in any part of the world as soon as JH-J are published. It is intended to take advantage of this offer, and I shall be glad to receive any suggestions as to what reports should be asked for." Naturally, this is likely, at first at any rate, to be of more practical interest to seaport cities than to inland towns and districts, but the matter is,' nevertheless, one of importance to the whole Dominion. The wonder is that such a relationship between the Consular Service and th« younger communities of the Empire was not established long ago, for it is obviously well calculated to promote trade, not only throughout the Empire but the world, in the interest of British industry and commerce. The subject has often enough been discussed in the Press,-but politicians have played a halting, hesitating part in connection with it. America, however, has been working intelligently on the principle for thirty or forty years. _. A plain instance of America's activity in the matter is disclosed by a message received this week from Sydney to the effect that "a delegation from the American Trade Commission of the National Association of Manufacturers is touring the world, and is to spend three or four months in the investigation of the commercial and industrial condi tions of Australia and New Zealand. It is a powerful body. Its members employ five million workers, and have two thousand millions sterling invested in manufacturing industries. Every conceivable trade is represented. It is the first time the Association has turned serious attention to developing trade with Australasia." This shows how necessary it is, in the interest of British industry and trade, that agencies like the British Consulates should be used in the way now agreed upon as between the Imperial Government and New Zealand. But the agreement should have been made long ago, for the last sentence in the message just quoted as having come from Sydney on Monday is not correct. The United States National Association of Manufacturers has for many years been giving close and serious attention to trade with Australia and New Zealand. It may never before have sent a travelling commission to these countries, but from them, as from other parts of the world, it has long been receiving systematic information on practically all subjects connected withtrade. This has enabled American manufacturers and merchants to push business into New Zealand itself at such a rate and to such an extent that, whereas in 1908 the imports from the States were valued at £1,643,937, in 1912 the value had risen to £2,049,618. For the same poi-lods the Old Country's imports into New Zaaknd were valued at £10,41,837 in 1908, and £12,499 787

in 1912. The figures show that Ame- j ricas grip on New Zealand trade is very vigorous indeed, and the fact is due to the circumstance that the States have all along been following the plan that New Zealand is just about to begin with the assistance of the Imperial Consulates. The Philadelphia Museum was the first American institution to carry on a great work in j this way, so as to enable American manufacturers to send the proper goods at the proper time to the proper markets.. Indeed, by this means America has secured almost sole possession of markets which formerly belonged exclusively to Great Britain, and the process is still going on.' New Zealand is therefore now only taking a leaf out of America's book, and it would surely be well were every other part of the Empire to follow New Zealand's example in the matter. Apart from institutions like the Philadelphia Muesum and the National Association of Manufacturers, American business men have long enjoyed the privilege of applying to their country's consuls in the way that New Zealand business men are now to be allowed to appeal to Imperial British Consulates. As an instance of how the x\mericans have been in the habit of working in this connection, here is a specimen circular in regard to woodworking machinery: "(1) From what countries is this machinery imported at present? (2) What are the importations in this line of machinery for the last year? (3) Is the wood-working industry of sufficient importance in New Zealand to warrant increased importations of such machinery, and could a good business be done there by American wood-work-ing machinery manufacturers?" If New Zealand manufacturers and merchants use their new opportunities for obtaining information by this method in this manner, the effect on the Dominion's industry and trade should ere long be very .considerable.