FAMILY TRADING

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 253, 20 September 1930, Page 6

FAMILY TRADING

BUY FROM THOSE WHO BUY FROM YOU. (Contributed, by N.Z. Welfare League). His Excellency, the Governor - General, in his address to the Rotary Club in Wellington, is reported to have said: “We Can all add to this country’s security and our property and comfort by keeping our money circulating in the family—primarily in New Zealand itself so far as one’s brother New Zealanders can supply one’s wants, and so far as they cannot do so: then in Great Britain and our Empire.” We offer no apology for repeating His Excellency’s words as thev carry a message, the truth of which is not adequately realised by many in this Dominion, because, taking us individually, we are often selfish and narrow and prefer to please our personal tastes rather than go a bit out of our usual routine to' act for the good of the whole community. This slogan, “Keep our money circulating in the family,” is catching on in Great Britain, not only in business circles but in the great Trade Union organisations, and is evidenced by the campaign to bring about increased trade within the Empire. At the recent Trade Union Congress it was urged as the best policy “to be in the interests of our own people and of the Dominions to press for as full a development as possible of the resources of the British Commonwealth.” Here is another thoroughly sound and practical slogan taken from His Excellency’s brief and businesslike opinion advertised in support of New Zealand’s industries week: In theory we suppose that 90 per cent of the people recognise the truth of this. In practice what do we find ’ from our trade returns? Here are some round figures to show who buy from us. Great Britain purchases nearly £40,000,000 per annum; we buy from her about £21,000,000 a year. On the other hand we sell only £4,000,000 to the United States but buy exactly twice as much from that country. The Old Country opens her doors wide to our produce; the U.S.A. erects a tariff wall against us; vet we show our gratitude by giving the latter country twice as much as she gives us. If we put a heavy duty on American goods they answer by threats —but woe betide the country who dares criticise her high tariff; they evidently believe in having all reciprocity on one side. The principle behind these movements, “Buy N.Z. Goods” and “Trade Within the" Empire,” is thoroughly sound; to these we would add another, •namely, “Buy British goods” _ "hen vou cannot get what you want in New Zealand. Every pound we send to the Old Country helps it to buy more from us; every pound sent to -America is practically lost to us; we get very little return.