FAR FROM DOWN AND OUT

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12455, 25 May 1926, Page 10

FAR FROM DOWN AND OUT

INTER-EMPIRE TRADE REASSURING ADDRESS BY MR BEALE PRE-WAR AND POST-WAR FACTS “It seems to me that New Zealanders practise that lino maxim of Emerson’s which says ‘lf a man would havo a friend he must be ono.' ” It may be said that this was the text upon which Mr L. B. Beale, H.M. Trade Commissioner in New Zealand, yesterday gave an inspiring address to members of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce at Gamble and Creed’s rooms upon Britain’s post-war trade, for it was with those words he prefaced his subject after acknowledging the cordiality of his welcome to the Dominion. Mr J. li. Simpson presided. That splendid maxim seemed to be practised in New Zealand, continued Mr Beale, for on every side one found friendliness. For the last six years lie had been stationed in Western Canada as H.M. Trade Commissioner an area covering many thousands of miles and peopled by hard-working people. They believed in real hard /oik and were overcoming the depression due to the war: u\ fact Canada was now well past the worst of the depression and on the high road to a substantial recovery. Her trade was not dissimilar from that of New Zealand, her exports consisting mostly of primary products, and again she was similar to New Zealand in that the United Kingdom was Canada’s largest customer. Before reviewing British industries he would like to refer back to the time which might be considered as the start of British trade supremacy, as it would give them a better perspective. It was the possession by Great Britain of immense deposits of highgrade coal and iron, formed the basis of her trade, and the possession of these was accompanied by an enterprise and inventive genius which a couple of centuries ago was not equalled anywhere in the world. The Old Country was the first to see mechanical means of production as distinct from hand-made goods, and in that respect had a start of a generation or two over those countries which to-day were her chief industrial rivals. Probably no event of the 19tli century was so important as the invention of textile machinery, and to-day not less than half of all that Britain exported of her own products would be included under textiles. About one-third of the cotton fabrics produced in Lancashire went to America and India. He then referred to the days of Queen Elizabeth, when daring voyagers discovered and established the world’s trade routes, and the incorporation of the universities of Oxfotd and Cambridge. The coming of the steam engine in the early part of the last century was the next most important thing to tho utilisation of mechanical means of production. There were 700,000 miles of railways in tho world, of which one-fifth was in tho British Empire, while most of the railways were built and managed by Britishers. Then came steamships, telegraph, telephone, wireless and other inventions and these activities in BGreat Britain were followed by greater activity on the part of her industrial competitors.

THE TRAGEDY OF COAL Having referred to the increases of populations in various countries in the last 30 years of last century, the speaker turned to the ten years preceding the war. In that period Great Britain increased her export trade by 48 per cent., while Germany went a little taster, not attaining the same volume of trade but increased it by 61 per cent.; United States increased 25 per cent., and France 46 per cent. Despite the increases by her rivals Britain still remained pre-eminent, and led the whole world. In 1913 the combined trade of Great Britain was 1250 millions sterling, Germany was a close second with 1000 million, and the United States with 750 millions foreign trade, which was tho position when the war started. In that year of greatest trad© accomplishment her imports weighed 55 million tons and 90 per cent, was carried in British ships. Her exports weighed over 100 million tons, of lyhich 75 millions were coal. Although coal accounted for three-quarters of the -weight, it only amounted to onetenth of the total value. The decrease in tho world demand for coal was having a serious effect in Great Britain at the present time. They might have to face for some years a diminished demand for what had constituted the greatest value of export for * many years. The use of hydro-electric power and oil had liit the export coal trade severely. Ho believed that before the war li million tons of shipping operated with oil; to-day seven million tons of shipping operated with oil. Britain’s coal exports had dropped by 30 million tons annually, and when they realised what that meant to employment in the mines, transportation, handling, etc., they would see tho serious effect it had’ on a very fundamental part of their economic life. AFTER THE WAR Great Britain finished the war with STEWARDS' HANDICAP (in harness). Of 3(10 sovs; 2.49 class: one mile and a quarter. Rebel scr yds blid. Asturio scr Harold Cardinal Burwood 24 Logan scr St. Maurn 24 yds blid. Tvv Audubon... 24 , T.ndv Embrace 32 Succession 24 Escort 32 Native Chief... 36 Downcast 12 Brutius 36 Daphne Queen’s Own... 36 Wildwood 12 Peter Bingen... 48 Dalnnhino 12 Golden- Devon 48 Kohara 24 Bonnv Logan... 48 Bessie Logan... 24 Willib Logan... 60 RAILWAY HANDICAP (in saddle), Uf 260 stfvs; 2.17 class; one mile. Macaranda ...scr yds bhd. Joyful scr Emir Bolls 32 Edward Jewel Pointer 12 ITarwin scr Wliv Worry... 12 Riot scr Lady Embrace 24 Rota scr Eight Ever * ... 21* Tarznn scr Oountrvman ... 24 Nipper scr Downcast 24 yds bhd. Gleaming 4-S Granite City... 12 Dreamalion ... 48 Nantwich 12 Dnrknite 48 ] | Rlsmurnte 12 Auguste Dillon 60 • Nagol Pointer 12 AH KF.VOIR HANDICAP (in harness’!, Of 3(0 sovs; 2.15 class; one mile. Rebel scr yds bhd. Asturio scr AVhctu 24 Ben Dillon ... scr Her Ladvship 2!Downcast scr Landlord ... 24 Tremind scr Paul Dufault... 24 Ails bhd. Shine Soon ... 24 I-Bona 12 Partner 24 Succession 12 Deter Bingen... 36 Talent V2 Deekv Logan... 36 Brent 100 12 Ben Ohau 36 Iv.v Audubon... 12 Golden Devon 36 Brure 12 Willie Logan... 43 Native Chief... 21- Dillon Wilkes fc Alto Chimes ... 21 Logan Chief ... 72 Gleaming 21 Minton Derby 72

her territory intact, her manufacturing plant bigger and better than ever, and greater unity in all parts of the Empire. So she finished tho war in a very good position, but had not nearly kept up With the value of her 1913 trade, now being 85 per cent, of what it was then. The trend of trade had changed. Before the war Britain obtained 25 per cent, of her imports from Empire countries • to-day she secured not less than 30 per cent, from Empire countries. (Applause.) In the other direction British exports to Empire countries had increased from 37 per cent, to 40 per cent. Her imports were principally foodstuffs and raw material. Of wheat 46 per cent, came from the Empire, butter a little less than half, of cotton only 12 per cent., but of the wool J2 per cent, came from the Empire principally New Zealand and Australia. (Applause.) NEW ZEALAND'S HONOURABLE POSITION The figure he had quoted showed that the Empire could supply the Old Country with a very much greater of foodstuffs and raw material than those same countries did now As illustrating the growth of interEmpire trade—so often glibly talked Rbout but another matter when nut into practice—before the war Britain secured half her foodstuffs and raw material from seven countries, five foreign and two Empire. To-day Britain still obtained half from seven countries, but four were British Empire countries and three were foreign (Applause.) “For the first time in history New Zealand is included among the first seven principal suppliers to tho Old Country.” CLoua applause. ) That, continued Mr Beale, was •, very practical expression of tho expansion of inter-Empire trade. Since the war the outstanding feature had been local manufactures, and every country under the sun seemed to want to make fully manufactured goods. The immediate result had been to restrict the imports of those countries which had hitherto depended on manufactured goods made in Britain. There remained to the big manufacturing countries the higher quality and finer kinds of manufactured goods, and as Britain held the palm for quality she was getting the benefit of the increased demand for such goods. It was hitting Britain as well as other countries. Brazil was producing finished textiles worth 22 millions per annum • Chile was making cement, and her imports had decreased from 50,000 tons to 34,000 tons. India and Japan had ”°"V200°00 looms working against 100,000 before the war. Japan, China, India and Australia produced 350,000 tons of steel before the war, to-day they were producing 000,000 tons. Local manufacture was an established fact, and to those countries depending for livelihood on its industries and export trade, a matter for serious consideration. NO SUBSTITUTE FOR HARD WORK The world was still poorer for the waste of tvar, and many years of hard work would be required to re-estab-lish trade on its old footing. In all his wanderings he had n<«. discovered any substitute for hard work. The only way to lift Great Britain out and up was by hard work. That was realised by masters and men at Home, between whom there was a much better understanding than three years ago. The speaker was referring to his recent trip to the Old Country, when he visited numerous factories and talked with employers and employees. When he visited Leicester an old friend referred to the apparent craze for extravagance and said, “before we can really enjoy the wealth that we seem to be spending, we must create it.” There was a lot at the back of wliat he said. All sections of employers and employees muse earn the reward and wages received. Perhaps, by reducing the standard of pleasure a country might raise or maintain its high standard of comfort, for it was a high standard of comfort they were after, not a high standard of pleasure. The capacity of a country to import must to a great extent depend on its capacity to sell its produce. It was mutual. They could truly say that Great Britain was absolutely sound. The £ sterling was at par in nil financial centres of the world. Her debts were' paid in full and as they fell due. Her people were never better housed, fed or clothed than tb f’v were to-day, broader schemes of insurance and old age pensions, and her capacity for production was never greater. She had increased factory production 50 per cent greater and 75 per cent better than before the war. “It is noticeable in Great Britain that our manufacturers are much more adaptable to the needs of overseas markets than before the wav. (Hear, hear). If you go to England and say you want 100.000 pairs of boots with red toes, be won’t say ‘we don’t make ’em like that,’ but will make exactly what you want.” He had an abfeline faith in all that was British, and believed that the combination of courage, justico and honour, with skill and enterprise, would keep them in the pre-eminent position they bad occupied for so long, and that would be possible by all the inhabitants and members of the British Empire working together for their common good. (Applause).