THE BOARD OF TRADE COMMISSIONER.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIX, Issue 115, 18 May 1906, Page 1

THE BOARD OF TRADE COMMISSIONER.

SUGGESTED CONGRESS OF

STATISTICIANS

In the course of a conversation with Mr Jeff ray, tho British Board of Trade representative, now on a tour of the colonies in .search of statistical and other information regarding trade matters, 1 (Wellington correspondent oi ''Otago Daily Times") gathered that, generally, he in very well satisfied with the result of his mission. His inquiries show clearly that there bad been a considerable encroachment by foreign nations upon Britain's trade with Australia and New Zealand —- more with Australia than with this colony. Whether or not Britain can regain this lost trade depends, he thinks, greatly upon whether or not tho British manufacturer Avill give a closer attention to colonial requirements than he has done in the past. The reason why steamships have not hitherto been included in our list of imports was because the Customs officials only took cognisiuice of imports that were landed. Mr Jeffray pointed out to them that steamships could not very well be landed unless they were wrecked. Both the Australian and the New Zealand officials will, in future, sco that such imports are duly recorded. Another, and a much more wide sweeping matter referred to by Mr Jeffray, is that the statistical records of Australia are not under the same headings as those of New Zealand, while neither are under the same headings as the record of the .Board of Trade. Comparisons, cannot, therefore be easily made. " Mr Jeffray has suggested that it will be a good thing to have a uniform Imperial system. The putting into practice of this suggestion will, he says, involve a conference of British statisticians in London. Mr Jeffray lias, however, for his own purposes, compiled a set of statistical papers, classifying the various articles according to their importance—i.e., according to human needs. For instance, "food," with its various subheadings, comes first, and clothing, or textiles, next. The information he is getting dates back to 1880, and the tables show at a glance the imports in the, different colonies, the value of those coming from the United Kingdom, and the value of goods imported from foreign countries. The result so far shows that in some things Britain has held her own in a remarkable manner, notably in regard to textiles— the most important of manufactures. In some other manufactures she has lost ground comparatively. I asked Mr Jeffray if ho did not think there would be a growing tendency on the part of the colonies to protect themselves against the manufacturers of the Mother Country. In reply, he said ho had been told by the Board of Trade to find out the extent and progress of local manufactures in the colonies, and he had acquired a tremendous amount of information on this subject. The statistics he had receiv- ! ed regarding the industries of New ! Zealand were, he said, tremendously gratifying. Good work had been, and was still being done over a widely diversified range. He asked if the position was not a very satisfactory one. In reply I could only say that I" was not certain about it; that we had not recently been developing any new industries, and that some of these already established were \n danger of going to the wall, and were crying out for more protection. I instanced the woollen industry. Mr Jeffray said thatmatter had not escaped his attention. "I think," he said, "your woollen industry, and perhaps some others, cannot survive without protection, but I question if it is worth while to push protection to the extent of an economic disadvantage."