TRADE RELATIONSHIP

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3477, 13 October 1926, Page 2

TRADE RELATIONSHIP

BETWEEN NEW ZEALAND AND GREAT BRITAIN.

IMPRESSIONS OF A NEW ZEALANDER.

The speaker at the Luncheon Club yesterday was Mr G. H. Scott, chairman of the New Zealand Association of British Manufacturers, who spoko on his observations of trado relationships between New Zealand and Groat Britain during a trip from which he had but recently returned. "Wherever I have been the interest in New Zealand is simply wonderful,” stated Mr Scott' in opening. "People abroad are interested in our politics, industries and climate. They even knew in Scotland of the vagaries of Wellington’s weather,” he added amidst laughter. The reason for the interest of people abroad was obvious, but he was really astonished to observe just how far that interest did extend. There was no doubt New Zealanders owed a great deal to the stamina and high qualities of the early pioneers. "Wo also owe a groat deal to tho high moral tone of the persons in high authority in New Zealand,” continued tho speaker, “and it only one name has to be mentioned it is that of the lato Mr Massey. (Applause.) His namo is known everywhere and his wonderful work is talked about in all corners of Great Britain.” New Zealand soldiers in tho Great War had also left a great reputation behind them and a good deal of credit was also due to tho All Blacks and their successful tour of the Old Country. Mr Scott next referred to conditions in England during tho strike. Tho longer he was in England and the more he heard of Mr Baldwin's ideals, the more he was impressed with England's Prime Minister. The speaker said he felt sure Mr Baldwin would do a great deal to prosper the trade of tho Dominion at Home. In connection with tho strike tho two outlooks were impossible of reconciliation. However,' a hew ideal was growing up in the Midlands which should eventually do a groat deal to solve England’s industrial problems. Labour circles in tho past had not taken into serious account tho fact that there was inevitably a great variation in the capacity and ability of each workman. Tho now ideal did observe this diffcronco and gave tho competent workman an opportunity of turning his ability to good account. Experiments had shown that under the new system of a basic wage plus payments for extra production, that there was a 5Ji per cent. higher output, the price of tho commodity to the public could be reduced 38 per cent., tho individual worker’s wages went up 108 per cent., and the total wages list went down 64.9 per cent. This now ideal was rapidly spreading. It was opposed to the Labour attitude, but the workmen were taking tho matter' into their own hands.

Continuing, Mr Scott stated that Now Zealand could not expect to come into tho commercial world until it produced something the world wanted at a competitive price. This cost of jiroduction was a very difficult proposition because in some countries competing with New Zealand, manufacturing was accomplished with cheaper labour and cheaper land. That was Now Zealand’s drawback, but it could be overcome, and in this matter the Government of the country could help. The Government should not do anything that would increase the cost of production in any way. Now Zealand must also be alert in its methods of marketing and that was whore the Dominion came into the picture vitally. New Zealand was entirely dependent on shipping owned outside the country, and that was a dangerous position, as it gave the producers no control over transport. Tho marketing should be a community matter. “I was everlastingly asked about our products in England,’’ said Mr Scott, “which showed that the Englishman wanted the produce but didn't know whore to got it.” Regarding control of export. IV mentioned that the word itself was unfortunate, as the people of England thought, it meant control of price whereas Now Zealanders knew quite well that it was only meant for control of supplies to secure regular marketing. “I discovered in tho Midlands that New Zealand was only getting a small percentage of business,” added Mr Scott. Of apples only .09 of the imports came from New Zealand, and that also was when there was a glut of apples in New Zealand. Merchants might do well if they brought before tho people of England at every .opportunity tho possibilities open before them in connection wdth New Zealand produce. A circular oven would do much good. In regard to trade outside England, all relationships should bo reciprocal, and to enforce reciprocal trading New Zealand tariffs should bn such as to create a jxosition which the outside countries could use as a basis of negotiations. There must bo mutual interests and it could not always bo done on a onesided basis. It behoved every single man in New Zealand to sec that such matters as those were voiced in Parliament. Compared with such matters as those, party politics were insignificant and pressure from tho community would make Parliament realise that hero lay its one' big work and malic it feel that these

were the first points in the management of the country. A big part-

nershlp with the Blother Country would enable New Zealand to prosjxor more than it was doing now. Blr A. Hopwoocl extended the thanks of the club to Blr Scott for his address.