BRITISH GOODS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 16 July 1925, Page 5

BRITISH GOODS

SENTIMENT IN NEW ZEALAND

LXCLLDINGLY ST 1(0NG

BALFOUR COMMITTEE'S REPORT

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyrightu (Au/* <k X Cable Ansociatioa.)

LONDON, July 14

The Balfour Committee report says the, average of Empire taritis on British goods is still lower than foreign, the proportion being 10 to 17. Only Soviet Russia has State control, which materially affecte* British trade, but. the development of State owned commercial shipping, which claims immunity from fiscal and other obligations falling ujion other traders is tin unfair form of discrimination and should be abolished.

Generally British trade is treated at leas as favourably in foreign markets as any exporting country. In .all the self-governing Dominions. British exports enjoy substantial preference, which has ben increased materially since the war. The, preferential advantage is now 9 percent. nd valorem, instead of 4 per cent. The increase in preference in the case of Australia and New Zealand is at least 8 to 81 per cent. In Canada, the increase is 2.) per cent. The percentage of British exports consigned to the Dominions which give preference has risen from 23 to 26 per cent, of the total value of tlie British export trade. The world is still poorer for the wastage of war, but no doubt recovery is taking place. It must be hoped that the restrictions upon commercial intercourse will be mitigated by international agreement. The review of New Zealand trade occupies 14 pages and says New Zealand’s imports per head are the, highest in the world, amounting to £33 per inhabitant. The New Zealand Government adopted a. most definite policy in favour of British goods and the sentiment in favour of British products is exceedingly strong. In no country in the world do British manufactures find a, more favourable market. It is advisable for British manufacturers to send representatives to study the local requirement of the Dominions. Thus far, Americans have been more active than the British.

1 lie Committee. surveying oversea market, for British exports, [mints out that though Britain was retaining a share of world trade the* great reduction (hereof means a substantial reduction in the aetual volume of British trade, which is due. to the decline of the purchasing power of local populations and the growth of local, manufactures, ns well as the displacement of British imports by those of other countries. The decline in purchasing power, however, is a factor of decreasing importance, whereas the growth of local manufactures is most important. Thus great, efforts were made to develop industries in Australia, particularly woollens, the- growth of local manufactures being assisted by import restrictions and subsidies; but. the increase in tariffs since 1917 was not thus far an important factor in retarding the recovery of British trade. LONDON, July 15. The Daily Telegraph commends the Balfour committee’s report showing detachment. from current controversies and dealing with the situation in u scientific spirit. Apparently Britain must anticipate increasing difficulty in selling goods on old established' markets while even in some markets competition will he keener than before the war. A Telegraph editorial stresses the value of the dominions’ preferences.