WAR AND COMMERCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16026, 18 September 1915, Page 5

WAR AND COMMERCE.

EMPIRE MOVEMENT.

PREFERENCE FAVOURED.

BUSINESS MEN'S VIEWS.

SUGGESTED LEGISLATION.

The best means to be adopted for fostering trade within the Empire during and after the war formed the subject of discussion at a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce last night. The chairman, Mr. E. Anderson, said it might he considered an absolute certainty that Britain and the allied nations would again trade with their present enemies after the war. To do otherwise would give a monopoly of a huge market to the allies' commercial rivals, and this, of course, was out of the question. A strong tariff wall was required in the Dominion. They could teach the people of the enemy countries that their pernicious methods in the war could, in a measure, be avenged by a patriotism which for generations to come would result in the exclusion of German and Austrian goods from the markets of the Dominion. There must be patriotism in business, and it was to be hoped that the British and Dominion Governments would never again tolerate the policy which allowed British shipping companies to carry German goods at freight rates considerably lower than those charged to the British manufacturer. ' (.Applause).

Need for Preferential Tariff. Mr. H. W. Hudson said the neutrals who had stood out in the war deserved consideration second only to that of the enemy. Although the contrary had been suggested, the present was the time for taking steps to protect British trad® in the luture. This was the time in which commercial people should state the lines upon which British trade should proceed. In his opinion it was childish to suggest that commercial relations with the Empire's present enemies should be prohibited after the •war. There were lines in which foreign manufacturers excelled, and there were foreign goods which could be produced more cheaply than in the British Dominions. He thought that public opinion, backed up by a preferential tariff throughout the Empire, would be quite sufficient to foster trade between the various British Dominions. Price, instead of quality, was very often a consideration with the retailer, but if the retailer could be induced to consider quality, undoubted benefit would result. The quality of British poods was beyond dispute. Mr. Hudson moved: " That steps be taken forthwith to assist the Associated Chambers of Commerce to secure legislation protecting this market from the threatened unloading of enemies' stocks after the war, and for reasonable preferential treatment within the British Empire in future, and in organising public opinion in support of such measures." '

Competition on an Equal Basis. In seconding the motion Mr. G. L. Pea j cocke said a mistake would be made if j the British people thought that sentiment alone, apart from commercial enterprise, was going to win victory in the matter of trade. The way to defeat German trade was to improve British goods in such a way that they could compete with German articles on an equal basis. ~A certain amount of trade would be done with the German Empire after the war, therefore it was impracticable to suggest that there should be a prohibitive tariff. The best means of festering British trade was to adopt a preferential tariff. His ideal was free trade throughout the whole of the I Empire and protection against the rest of the world. He knew, however, that many years would pass before such a state of affairs would be consummated. Mr. Peacocke criticised the action of British shipping companies in carrring foreign goods at a lower rate than British articles. This, he considered, had been a serious factor in developing foreign trade to the detriment of British trade. Ideas Must be Changed. Mr. W. A. Beddoe, Canadian Trade Commissioner, said that peace would be made not by Britain, but by the British Empire. This meant that the British Dominions had the right of entering into their own commercial treaties. It would be impossible to adopt preferential trade within the Empire without denouncing certain " most-favourednation" treaties some of which were entered into bv Great Britain as far back as the time of Oliver Cromwell. These treaties were still operative. The British people would have to change the ideas regarding tariff, or else they . would have to fight the war all over again. If British trade was to be SS. 'SSir". bep'efereati,, Mr. A. B. Roberton agreed with the •views of the previous speakers, but considered more attention should be paid to technical education and scientific research cerned commercial matters were conmously. reS ° lution was carried unani-

Branding of Packages. The following resolution was then caron. the L motion of Mr. Hudson , that , n the opinion of this Chamber legislation, to be effective, should provide inter nlia, ' a) that all merchandise, and the packages in which li is imported should be distinctly and indelibly marked with the name of the country of production : (b) that the inclusion in the construction or composition of any goods of parts, to the value of 20 per cent., manufactured m countries other than that branded upon the completed goods in terms of the preceding section, should be disclosed at the time of entry; (c) the noldmg by ore, = shareholders of onefifth of the share capital of the manufacturers of such goods should be disclosed at time of entry ; (d) a breach of these provisions to entail forefiture of the goods : (e) that the Customs authority at each port of entry furnish the secretary of the local Chamber of Commerce 'at least monthly with a schedule of foreign-made goods imported, showing country of origin, general description of goods."quantity, and name and address of importer, provided that neither the name of the manufacturer nor the cost pricc of the goods should be disclosed, and that records of shipments of less than £5 in value to any one consignee should be optional; (f) that the Customs authorities at the port of entry may, and upon requisition of the secretary "of the local Chamber of Commerce shall, require production of a consular certificate and a statutory declaration from the importer as to the correctness of the returns made under these provisions."