EMPIRE TRADE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17273, 14 September 1916, Page 6

EMPIRE TRADE.

In a very interesting and. stimulating address the retiring president of the Employers’ Association last night entered a strong plea for the adoption of a more patriotic commercial policy. Mr Hayward has been looking forward and studying the problems that will have 'to bo faced when the war is over, and ho believes that drastic and comprehensive measures will have to be taken if the commercial and industrial position of the British Empire is to be maintained. From the commonplaces'of the current discussion of this question he has passed to the consideration of the practical issues, and the real intention of his address was to urge that steps should be taken without delay to fix the universal mood of the moment and translate it into action. There are scores of men ready ; to talk patriotism-in traclo, but when it comes in practical pleasures, there

is commonly nti nb.uuioc of initiative mid nothing is done. M>' May ward wiuit.s to see the establishment of a stroll" organisation now to . iitidcrtako the necessary campaign of education. to avu toll developments and to advise and assist the Government of Hie Dominion in the shaping ot a patriotic policy. Probably he realises that appeals to the public are likely to be of small permanent value, but if there existed a powerful organisation with a definite policy able to influence public opinion and. through the public. the Parliament of the country,- it would not be a difficult matter to direct the trade at least of this country iuto the right channels and -if that were done New Zealand would bo open to no reproach. There is certainly need for such an organisation. At this very moment wo are lending, perhaps unconsciously, .an extraordinary amount of support to the nation that -will'probably prove the most formidable of the Empire’s commercial competitors after the war. For opr own part wo shall be anxious less concerning the menace of German commercial methods than concerning those of the United States. While the war is in progress the Americans are reaping an .unparalleled harvest, and with the enormous profits that they are making they are building up an industrial position of amazing . strength. New Zealand is assisting in the process. Not very long ago the Finance Minister of the Dominion defended the importation of American motor-cars and of other American goods on the ground that the trade conditions required an exchange of commodities. It was an extraordinary contention, utterly unsound, of course-, but the fact that it could be made proves how little the economic position is understood and how even the Minister in charge of the Dominion’s financial affairs, may fail to appreciate an obvious truth. The support that we now lend to American industries is going to help those industries in competition with British industries aftor the war. The organisation of which Mr Hayward speaks could impress thnt simplo fact on the public mind, and Avhen Parliament is in session its influence might easily impel the Government to adopt a saner policy in regard to importations from America. We mention this subject ns an illustration of the urgent need of just such a movement as thnt which Mr Hayward advocates. We trust that his suggestion will he adopted without delay and that patriotic citizens will not he deterred by the magnitude and apparent obscurity of the issues from facing them promptly and courageously.