THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 1924. THE OUTLOOK FOR BRITAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18685, 15 April 1924, Page 8

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 1924. THE OUTLOOK FOR BRITAIN.

Industrial depression still holds' Britain in its grip. To secure conditions u»ader which her overseas trade can be revived until the prewar level of prosperity is regained has been described by Mr. Lloyd George as. the great task of the statesman to-day. Many others in public life accept the same gospel. Opposing the protectionist policy of Mr. Baldwin at the recent election, the Labour Party made the tranquilising of Europe one of the first planks in its platform. In an iarticle published within the last few days, Mr. Lloyd George attributed Britain's misfortunes to the fact that many of her former European customers were too poor to purchase her manufactures. A review of trade sent by cable from London notes, as a most hopeful sign, that certain European countries show signs of developing better economic conditions. The foundation of all these statements is the obvious belief that when Europe is able to do so, Europe will commence again to purchase British goods on the same scale an before the war. If that

hypothesis can be accepted, then there is no disputing the contention that the tranquilising of Europe, and the economic rehabilitation of those countries now in distress are, conjointly, the two most vital objectives toward which British statesmen can strive. Unfortunately the whole conception is based . upon pure assumption, the same assumption which leads ardent Free Traders to argue that any departure from Britain's traditional policy would impair the good-will with which her overseas customers regard her. There is no evidence that foreign countries in the past have cherished this good-will, or that they have purchased British goods from any motive save self-interest and necessity. There can be no evidence that wlien they are again able to purchase, they will need to or want to, purchase British goods. In a recent article advocating Imperial preference, Mr. S. M. Bruce, Prime Minister of Australia, wrote " When the industrial developments on the Continent are taken into consideration, we must expect that within a short space of time, European re-establishment would face Britain with fiercer competition both in European markets and in the other principal markets of the world than anything that <■ she has . yet encountered." There is much reason to entertain such a fear. Industrial ambition is strong everywhere in Europe. ' _ r Tariff walls have risen about all the new States created by the peace treaties. Within their shelter, every effort is being made to develop manufacturing industries, | with no idea of limiting sales to the I domestic market. It is now a com-

monplace that the manufacturers and traders of Czecho-Slovakia have succeeded in placing wares on a market so distant as New Zealand. Belgium, despite her travail, is hard at work, manufacturing and exporting with vigour. France is virtually as self-contained as ever, and with woollen goods and lace has made formidable attacks on the wellentrenched industries of the North of England. Italy is becoming more and more an industrial country, with strong reserves of man-power and water-power. Strategically wellplaced, Italy regards the Near East as her special field for commercial expansion. In the Far East, practically every nation which manufactures is scrambling for some share of the market. The indications all point to Britain finding that when Europe throws off its economic sickness, the nations will be rival sellers rather than buyers. As Mr. Lloyd George has observed, post-war problems have forced other countries to make goods formerly bought from Britain In such circumstances, it is common to argue that British workmanship and technical excellence of method stamp her products with a quality no rival can equal. The quality' of British manufactures is admitted. Frequently it is the result of craftsmanship transmitted from father to son for genera-

tions. Ono of the tragedies of the bad times has been the number of workmen of the highest skill who have been unable to find occupation. In very many instances they have refused to remain idle at home. Eecently it has been apprehensively remarked that, despairing of the outlook at home, thousands of Britain's best and most carefully trained tradesmen, especially in the iron trades, have gone to seek their fortunes abroad. The United States has drawn heavily upon this reservoir of technical skill, to man factories which are competing fiercely within the Empire in machinery, motor-vehicles, and, indeed, all metal, products. The logic of such circumstances must surely make itself felt in the ultimate. Those who believe, ,■ and > contend, that the markets Britain needs could and should be found within the Empire must gain the day. With a proper and scientifically-devised system of migration this invaluable and irrei ' -J "- r ■

placeable quota of Britain's manhood would not ,be lost to , the Empire. Those not needed in the land of their birth would be found useful and profitable occupation- in the vast undeveloped Empire. They would produce food and raw materials, in return taking manufactures, thus creating a demand, and providing employment for those essential to the industrial armies of Britain. Youths on the threshold of life would be given the choice between occupation at home or overseas. AH these possibilities lie nascent in the present elementary schemes _of migration, especially boy migration. In their full application with a commensurate application of capital to development work, lies the hope of the future, not only for Britain, but for the Empire. Such a policy might well be substituted for the " statesman's task " sketched by Mr. Lloyd George. It is a counsel of hope. As such, it is surely worthy of adoption at a time when depending- on European revival to cure Britain's industrial ills perilously resembles a counsel of despair.