PREFERENCE SENTIMENT

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11412, 8 January 1923, Page 4

PREFERENCE SENTIMENT

BRITAIN AND DOMINIONS. "B&TY FROM YOUR OWN KINSMEN," Failing a change in v temff policy, whioh may or may not bd deeirable^on,,general grounds, what oan the British, Isles do to give some effective return to the Dominions for the very substantial advantages whioh ottr manufactured goods enjoy under, tariffs? asks a. correspondent of the London "Times," observing that something ought to he done in common fairness. There is one very important way in which the. people of the British Isles can reoiprooate in the matter of Empire preference, he continues. A general sentimental preference on the part of business men and consumers generally would) hav# far-reaching result®. Importers of Dominion produce complain strongly of the absence of any such widespread sentiment .in favour .of {buying Empire produce whenever possible in preference to foreign commodities. They State that the majority of British firms are so conservative that they go on importing axttoles from foreign countries, Which, are in no vfay superior to Dominion pzoduae, jnenply because they have always dealt with a particular eouroe of supply, and see no reason to change. The Customs and sentimental preference ' aoooooed hy the Dominions together represent vastly more than is generally realised. Were they to be swept away—ns they may be in time it no reciprocal benefit is derived—our export trade would soon he affected and our army of unemployed would be rapidly augmented. There ie no doubt , that much. can. be done by effective publicity methods to educate the public to ask for Empire produce and to intorestthe retailers in bringing it to notice. But this will coet much money, and the question is: Who is to provide it? No doubt it would pay the various Dominion Governments to oondnot ■ a joint campaign Of the kind, and they would be entitled; to expert support from the British Government, Bat one cannot escape from the conclusion that it is in the sohools that the work should he begun. If the children were taught to realise ' the importance of buying from owr own kinsmen rattier than from etrangers, there would be some hope of the next generation coming into line with the Dominions in regaining Empire preference, as expressed by demanding goods of British production, whenever these iare obtainable of the desired quality, as one of the greatest bulwarks of Imperial unity.