Manawatu Evening Standard. FRIDAY, JUNE 23. 1922. TRADI WITHIN THE EMPIRE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 431, 23 June 1922, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. FRIDAY, JUNE 23. 1922. TRADI WITHIN THE EMPIRE

Til!'. Prime Minister struck the right note when replying to the toast of Parliament at the complimentary luncheon rendered to the lion. \V. Downie Stewart and himself hy the New Zealand Association of British I Manufacturers and Agents on Tuesday I in dealing with the question ol Imperial preierouee. Mr Massey's advocacy of trade within the Empire is no new thing, lie lias all along held that the progress and prosperity of the Empire alike demand that, as far as possible, the several States comprised within the British Commonwealth of Nations should trade first amongst themselves. As a remit ol the war lie adopted the view that our first trade preferences should be given fo Croat Britain and the dominions; then to our Allies in 1 be late war, and, finally, that such trade as mils', be rransneted with exenemy countries should be routined to products and manufactures not procurable in British or Allied countries. There is, amongst certain people, a well-nigh invincible objection to the reopening or trade relationships with dormany. We are not really dependent upon that country for any special line oi merchandise or manufactures, and we cannot forget that, in the late war, Germany was lighting the British peoples and their Allies with their own money---that she had built tip the trade, that gave her the means to make war, upon the apathy and neglect of onr own peoples to give preference to British goods and mamilaetnres. The annual average, over the live years from 11)10 to 191-1 inclusive, of Britain’s import trade witli Germany was kGt,GOO,dO" sterling, and the similar average of her exports to Germany was IMG,08:1,80S). In the pre-war year of im;i the imports from Germany into the United Kingdom were valued at £80,41!,07)7, and the exports from the Edited Kingdom into Germany amounted to little more than one-half of that t0ta1—£40,077,(11.10. Up to the time trade relationships between the two countries ceased in August, 1914, the imports from Germany that year totalled £40,9*28,000 in value, the exports being less than half of that amount, viz., £2:i,07o,00(). In 1913 the imports included manufactures and machinery, etc., to the value of £94.809,473, all of which could have lioon made in the United Kingdom, and thus have given employment to many thousands of additional workers, Accepting one-third of that total as the wage product (it is probably more), it will be seen that an additional eight and a quarter millions would have been available for payment to the workers of the United Kingdom had those manufactured lines been made by British artisans and mechanics. Another ten millions went in payment lor sugar, most, if not all. ol which could have been produced and supplied by British sugar growing countries. New Zealand’s trade with Germany was steadily increasing. In 1910 our imports from that country only totalled £391,790 in value. 11l 1911 they had increased to £480,017, rising to' £053,930 in 1919 and to £087,933 in 1913, while ( lor the fu st seven months ol 3914, they totalled £090,400, and would probably have gone well over the million by the end ot that year hhd trade relationships continued. The war broke the spell, however, and severed the links ot a last growing trade, which was regarded as so valuable in Germany that a special line of steamships had been arranged to trade between the two countries. Australia's trade with Germany was running into millions and its imports from that country averaged well over LI per head oi the population in 1913. It was even more the previous year, and most, il not all of that trade, could have been done with the Mother Country, to the material benefit ol both the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. A recognition of facts ,-mch as these ought to and should, « trengthen the ’ demand for British o nods to the exclusion of the foreign a I'tiele. Trade with other countries -1 tould not be conducted on lines that ai o detrimental to the Empire because, so conducted, it weakens the latter just as it strengthens the former. In giving, additional preference to British trailo, the Government has done the rigA .v thing; the number of articles

upon wln’di preference lias boon given was doubled under the Customs Duties Act of last session, and in making the additions Mr Massey and his colleagues gave an earnest of their desire to further strengthen the Lies that unite this country to the Motherland. No truly patriotically minded New Zealander can wish to see trade with Germany, or any other country lor that matter, carried on at the expense ul the -Mother Country or of any of the Dominions or possessions of the Empire. All possible preference should be given to goods of British .origin in the first place, providing that, in the preference, they do not cripple existing industries in this country; as, in that way, we can best servo the interests of the Empire, and with those interests our own.

A London message states dint the Prince of Wales received an enthusiastic reception on his return from Jus tour in the East. Thirteen degrees of frost were registered at Morrinsvillo on \\ eduesdny morning, being the highest since records were taken there. Tito Rev. James lugs acknowledges with thunks the receipt of postal note for 5s on behalf o.: the Russian famine relief fund from “Sympathy.” A message from Rotorua staves that C. Hall, who was wounded in the stomach as the result of a gunshot accident on Wednesday, died yesterday. The sheep owners met the shearers’ representatives at a conference yesterday at Wellington, and submitted an offer covering wages and conditions, which the men’s representatives refused to entertain. The Cambridge Electric Power Board has decided to write to the Defence Department with the object of securing the rifle range for planting gum trees for future use us poles. According to Mr A. D. McLeod, M.P., who left Rotorua, a few days ago, nobody there was taking much notice of the earthquakes. Nothing at all was felt at Rotorua and the older residents even at Taupo are not worrying much about the occurrences. An enjoyable dance was held in the Soldiers’ Club on Wednesday evening by the High School Old Girls’ Hockey Club. Included in the large attendance were the members of the Te Ante College football teams. The floor was in splendid order and the music splendid. The chaperones were Mesdatnes H. Palmer and W. McKenzie.

A report issued by the representatives of the North Canterbury freezing companies states that killing is proceeding and (Jie number of workers steadily increasing, it is expected that the season will go on a few weeks longer than was intended, but apart from the delay, no great harm will result if the shipping of the frozen meat goes on satisfactorily. A verdict of guilty but insane was returned in the case of a lad named Walker, aged 17, who on April 22nd called up a messenger boy by telephone to a house in Lowndes Square, and then murdered him (states a London cablegram). Considerable interest was taken in the case owing to its similarity to the Jacoby and True cases. Walker showed no emotion durng the trial. “During the times of peace the less the Covernment interferes with the industries of the country the better it will be for itself and the better for the country as a whole,” remarked the Prime Minister in hi.s speech at the A. and P. function lasi evening. “As far its 1 am concerned there will be no more interference with the Indus, tries of this country than we can possibly help.” The secretary of the New Zealand Hockey Association has received a letter from the Now South Wales Association, accepting an invitation ut send a team to tour the Dominion this season. It is proposed that the team shall number 18 and include players from New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. The tour is to last throe weeks and will open early in September. A point made by the Prime Minister iu the course of his speech last night was that it. was no use sending the Dominion’s culled cows to the English beef market. New Zealand could produce beef that would sell ou the. English market, but only a limited quantity. In this connection he recommended three-year-olds, Polled Angus and the like. There would be a good market for beef of this class and for it they would get their price.

River-bed cals arc known sometimes to grow to a great size, and this is borne out by the skin of a grey tabby which reposes in an Ashburton skin dealer’s store (says an exchange.) Although the pelt has shrunk considerably by tanning, it would still make three pelts to fit ordinary domestic cats. The pelt came in with a bundle of rabbitskins, and the cat was probably taken in a trap in the river-bed. What the tabby was like when alive can only be imagined, but be was certainly a super-cat—a young tiger, in fact.

The suggestion lias been made to us that tve should bring under the notice of promoters of Sunday concerts in Palmerston North the desirability of commencing their programmes at 8.30 in future instead of 8.15, as in the past. The latter time is regarded by many church people as unsuitable, and if the suggestion made in the foregoing is adopted it will give satisfaction to a large section of the public and probably swell the attendance at future concert-.

A young' man called at iho Hamilton police station on Saturday night and left a. letter, which read as follows“By the lime you read this 1 will be out of the way. 1 am homeless and have nowhere ro go. I have looked everywhere for work, but cannot find any, so have now derided to do a desperate thing and get out of the way. as I cannot go on any longer.—Yours truly, J. Anderson. ■’ The police immediately searched, but nothing was seen of the man, who is said to he about twenty-two years of age, well dressed, was carrying a suit ease, and was thought to have come from Marton,

“The increase in the dairy produce of the Dominion during the past four years is something like live years,” remarked Mr Massey last night. It was, he added, past all doubt that New Zealand was going to become the dairy farm of the Empire, lie went on to congratulate the dairy farmers of Now Zealand on the way the quality of their products had kept up—and so long as they produced a good article, so long would they gel a fair price for it and be paid for their labour. There were no people who worked so hard iu the Empire as the people engaged in the dairying industry.

One of Mr Massey’s observations at the A. and P. Association’s function last; night was that money was still dear in New Zealand, The demand exceeded the supply, although it was becoming more plentiful. The Treasury reported to him only a few days ago that it the Government wanted half a million at 51 per cent, it could be obtained within the Dominion, but he was not in the market at the present moment. There must always be a loss on account of the dilference between the price paid for the money and the rate of interest received from its investment. However, the Government had to go on developing its resources and making them available for the industries of the country.

Farmers’ waterproof boots, the Roscc kind, specially built to meet the exacting needs of the up-to-date farmer. This boot is solid without being heavy and will resist the wet under all conditions. Sold during sale at 35s per pair.-Thu C. M. Ross Co,. Ltd., solo agents,—Advt. The British General Electric Company have recently placed on the market a unique electric lighting plant, which fits in the pocket. Current is generated by merely pressing a lever, and a clear white beam of light is obtained. With ordinary care tho ‘Tlandilito” is everlasting, and at the price, 555, is a splendid investment. Demonstrations will bo gladly given at tho Central Electric Co., the Strand, Palmerston North,—Advt.

English teasels of 21 pieces are being given away by Collin,son and Son. With each pram sold they give you your choice of an English 21 piece teaset value 57s 6d free. The prams and teasels are now being shown in one window, also inside, so if you would like a teaset for nothing and want a new pram here is your chance— Ccllinson and Sen, Broadway, Open Friday until 9 at night,—Advt.

Peall is leading McConaohy by 11,450 points to 8452 in the billiards match now being played in London. A postal messenger pleaded guilty at Timaru yesterday to a series of charges of failing to deliver letters and was committed to the Supremo Court for sentence. Mr Justice Adams was presented with a pair of white gloves at the opening of the .Supremo Court at Grey mouth yesterday as there were no criminal charges down for hearing. It was stated in the New South Wales House of Representatives that of Auslralia’s adult male population one person out of six was working for the Government last year. Writing in the Westminster Gazette, A. C. McLaren says that he understands England is sending the best cricket side available to South Africa to enable the members to play together before they meet the Australians again. For the first time In the history of British farming, a caterpillar plague, which was threatening orchards at Sevenoaks, was destroyed by a shower of insecticide, dropped from an aeroplane flying at a height of 50 feet. At the Supremo Court at Gisborne Albert Hector Charles and Sydney Hirst Forbes, who were found guilty of manslaughter in connection with the fata! injury sustained by a young woman run over by a motor car, were brought up for sentence, the former being fined £2O and die latter £3O.