IMPERIAL TRADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20385, 14 October 1929, Page 7

IMPERIAL TRADE.

GREAT BRITAIN'S EFFORTS*,

LOOKING FOR NEW BUSINESS.

PRODUCTION IN NEW ZEALAND,.

Although he has been only five weeks in the Dominion, Mr. L. A. Paish, the new British Trade Commissioner, has already an established faith in the future of the country. Ho is an Englishman with a pronounced Imperial sense. Ho understands that Great Britain must make efforts to strengthen her Imperial trade, but he is not given to platitudes and in a practical manner can suggest avenues through which New Zealand's trade with the home country can be more firmly established

Mr. Paish arrived from Wellington on Saturday morning on his fiist visit to Auckland. " During my short time in New Zealand I have travelled as far south as Invercargill, and now I am seeing some more of tho North Island," ho said. "I like the country immensely, and New Zealanders have already lived up to their reputation by making me feel perfectly, at home."

The view that New Zealand will not reach a state of over-production for many years was expressed by Mr. Paish. \y Britain will buy anything, you can produce for years to come," he said. " But, for all that you will have to do what you have been asking us to do—study more fully the taste of tho market you are supplying. You tell us that we must build motor-cars for the Dominion more along the lines of the American cars. This may or may not be right; you are more or less accustomed to American cars, and your tastes run in this direction. On the other hand, if your primary producers were to make a more complete study of the requirements of consumers on the Home market, you would build up a larger and far more lucrative export trade." ./

Cheese, Bacon and tfggs. Cheese and bacon were two commodities mentioned by Mr. Paish in which improvements could be brought about. New Zealand could well produce more varieties of cheese, while a better flavoured bacon would meet with a very keen demand. There was no reason why New Zealand should not build up a sound egg export trade. Foreign countries supplied 75 per cent, of the eggs used in Great Britain, and large consignments caine i'rom a country as far away as China. This countered the argument that transport difficulties would stand in the way of the successful establishment of the trade.

" The Empire Marketing Board continues to do wonderful work in England, Mr. Paish said. "It is giving the ordinary British working man a most valuable sense of Imperialism. The average New Zealander is more articulately patriotic than the average Englishman, but the board is making the. Englishman take an active and sensible pride in the Empire and an intelligent interest in its every part."

Touching on affairs in England, Mr. l Paish said that manufacturers! were giving heed to colonial demands. Before the war there were ready markets- -for an enormous production, but new there was strenuous competition, and British manufacturers had to go out and sell their goods if they wished to continue in business. New conditions were giving birth to a much stronger selling policy and necessitating the adoption of scientific methods of salesmanship. The theory that goods of quality sold themselves required modification. Looking For Business.

" One of the most hopeful signs in England is the realisation that times have changed," Mr. Paish said. " Britain is now looking for business and not waiting for business to come to her. It is almost a commonplace that the British manufacturer, when he realises what goods are required, can turn them out better than anyone else. " Great Britain is exerting every effort to recapture the Empire motor-car market. In many cases we have to fight against prejudice, as some people think that American cars are more suited to colonial conditions. There will be certain changes in our cars. There will be at decrease in prices and an increase in power. Indeed, our manufacturers are putting out models with actually more power tha.n is thought necessary. A new six-cylinder car has been built by the Morris firm particularly for the dominion market, and it is an extraordinary good attempt to meet the demands of the market." The view that the British woollen industry might recover some of the ground lost in competition with artiiicial silk was also expressed by Mr. Paish. Manufacturers had a wonderful opportunity in the weaving of wool into entirely new fabrics. English worsteds, of course, were still supreme and created a. demand for crossbred wool which formed the major portion of New Zealand's clip. _ Mr. Faish is making only a short visit to Auckland. He will address the Chambers of Commerce Conference and will return to Wellington to-morrow evening. However, lie hopes to revisit Auckland in the near future and mako a more protracted stay.