THE HOME MARKETS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10544, 22 March 1920, Page 5

THE HOME MARKETS

SUPPLIES FOR COLONIES PREFERENCE FORi NEW ZEALAND. The views held by Mr R. W. Dalton, British Trade Commissioner, upon tho economic problems of the world today may bo taken as thoroughly authoritative, as those of a business man who has a closer insight into the trend •if affairs abroad than most. Some interesting impressions upon the ai'vere fleets of tho war in England wove imparted to a reporter of this journal yesterday by Mv Dalton, who has just, •m'ived back in New Zealand alter a somewhat lengthy visit abroad. “During the first lew mouths ntlci the Armistice,” said Mr Dalton, “there was great disturbance and agitation, but during recent months not only has Inborn unreal subsided to a considerable extent but factories have been reorganised and programmes have been laid down for future production. At first it was very difficult for manufacturers to S'hat they were to do wi-h their war plauts, and only u few «i the inigeet finns had decided on their new departures ; many of the smaller manufacturers were in difficulty to know in which direction to turn their attention. Now a great many of the largest firms havo publicly declared then future policies and industries are grad*ially being consolidated. In audition to this, there have been very important amalgamations between the largo capitalists, all of which has taken time to arrange, and until tlio arrangements were definitely made, progress was to some extent held up. Coincident with this reorganisation there Was an enormous demand in both the Home and overseas markets for delivery of goods which havo been largely unprocurable during tho 'war, so that manufacturers have experienced «. the, last eighteen months a tune of great 'difficulty, apart entirely from doubts as to tho probable attitude. _ . , “The inclination of the British manufacturer is always in favour of supplying goods for Dominion and Colonial' markets, and I have found a general keenness to supply goods to Now Zealand. It in only natural, however, that when pressure on the manufacturer from all quarters is intense it is difficult for him, however much he may desire to do so, to arrange orders to meet the needs of markets as far away ns Australia find New Zealand. I am satisfied that tho manufacturers at Home would go a long way. and have, in fact, gone * long way, to endeavour to meet the requirements of New Zealand' at _ a time when they would have no difficulty whatever in supplying much more than they can produce to markets much nearer at hand. . opinion is that! one cannot come back to Now Zealand without realising that, compared with other countries in the world, this Dominion is in an extremely prosperous and happy position.’ 1