IMPERIAL RECIPROCITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18750, 2 January 1923, Page 12

IMPERIAL RECIPROCITY

NEW ZEALAND’S HIGH EXAMPLE. MR R. W. DALTON’S OPINIONS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, November 16. Mr R. W. Dalton, who lias lately returned from New Zealand, and who is to bo appointed Senior Trade Commissioner of Canada and Newfoundland, lias been asked by several influential journals to give his opinions on New Zealand trade. The first of his articles appears in The Times to-day. Mr Dalton writes: it was recently reported that Mr Massey, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, had stated publicly that one of his chief ideals was “to encourage bv educational and other means practical patriotism, love of country, appreciation of British citizenship, and pride in Britain’s record in peace and war, and to endeavour to make New Zealand a model British community, to keep' it progressive, prosperous, enlightened, always ready to do its duty in maintaining the principles of British nationhood.” Those who know Mr Massey intimately know that this is no idle string of words, but the expression of a passionate desire which governs his whole life.- And not only is this Mr Massey's own feeling, but it expresses, probably as well as it could be expressed, the innate wish of the whole of the New Zealand public. It is almost irn•possible for an Englishman newly arrived in New Zealand to understand the depth of this feeling, and the extent to which it is carried into the private lives of the people is almost unbelievable. The Government and local authorities are deliberate in their preference for British materials, plant, and work, and both the merchant and the general public follow suit. To some extent, of course, this is due to a belief in the superior quality of British workmanship, but deep down in the hearts of Ministers, local authorities, and the general public it is known to bo a practical expression of their belief in the necessity for the consolidation of Empire. In fact, it is the rule rather than the exception for commercial firms in New Zealand to go to infinite pains, to transfer to the United Kingdom such business as they have previously given to foreign countries, and in numerous cases which have come to my notice they have actually made losses in so doing. But curiously enough they are daunted neither by these losses nor by the somewhat offhand treatment which, unfortunately, they often receive from those interests in the United Kingdom to whom they wish to transfer their business and to whose interest it would be to have it. It has been my duty now for six years to watch closely the economic and commercial life of Now Zealand, narticularly with a view to developing relations with the Mother Country, and I have been more and more convinced—because I have seen more and more evidence of it —that the practical commercial, as well ns sentimental, patriotism of New Zealand towards the Mother Country, with the possibilities of its effect on commercial relationships, if it is understood at all, is understood <o the full only by those of our merchants and manufacturers who have had active and personal experience in Now Zealand; and they are terribly few. EfcKORS OF IGNORANCE. Mistakes which are made by British nrms in their relations with New Zealand interests are duo almost entirely to this lack of understanding of the sentimental feeling behind New Zealand business. While this feeling is a strength to us at home, it is also a possible weakness. If it is slighted, the euect is apt to b? worse than if it had never existed at all. The point then arises—is it worth our while to endeavour to understand their attitude and to carry our sympathy towards it into actual practice? xrom the point of view of Imperial relationships there can surely be no doubt on this question. But strictly from the point of view of commercial gain there can also be no doubt. Although Now Zealand’s population is only a little over a million, her wealth is enormous. In the brightest day? of the boom period land for dairying purposes was selling in New Zealand as high as £250 per acre, and prices of from £?0 to xTCO per acre y,-to the rule rather than the exception. These lands paid at such prices, and most of them are still being farmed, though at some loss in many cases owing to the collapse of markets. With land at such prices and 13,000 miles away from her chief marker, New Zealand can still compete with countries close to England where land is infinitely cheaper. That Iris can ho so is proof of the extraordinarily favourable conditions under which New Zealand works. The climate is such that in the dairying district it is unnecessary to grow any ' winter feed, and stock need never be boused. Ibe wool-growing capacity of Now Zealand is well known, but wool is gradually becoming less important than dairy produce: and the dcvolopmcnfc of tho future win undoiuurdly be to intensify tho importance of the dairying industry. New Zealand is, indeed, so wealthy tnat she is at, present engaged, for instance, in the development of bydro-electno power for the North Island which will cost £20,000,000 before tho energy is at tho doors of tho users. In other she is committed to heavy expenditure in developmental •works, and no one would suggest that such expenditure is unjustified. As far as her exports are concerned. Now Zealand is determined also to canvass overv means of exhausting the possibilities of the markets of Great Britain before slm looks elsewhere. About 75 per cent, of her exportable produce now comes to Britain. In replying to suggestion? that sneml efforts to increase trade elsewhere should be*made, Mr Mnsmv recently slated hat until ho was satisfied that the markets of Britain were being supplied to capacity he was not disposed to laK-o llio steps which were suggested. The meat pool and the proposed dairy pool arc in n largo measure designed to achieve the end of even further perfecting Now Zealand . exporting methods, which by their systems of government grading and m other ways are already highly organised. BRITISH SETTLERS WANTED. If Now Zealand suffers from anything, it is the lack of knowledge of the dominion and its ideals which ex.sts not otj y iu foreign countries, but also, unfoi tumitc y. in Great Britain. Immigration of cour-e, \ needed, and New Zealand statesmen realise the’necessity for a definitely planned scheme for encouraging the growth of the dominion’s ponu.lat.ou by the of the most desirable type of scttlois. io Now Zealand this means the introduction of British settlers to iho maximum a < , therefore, a further development of the possibilities for British trade. Ttritish It is surely worth while, then, for' Brit . interests to show every consideration to country with such possibilities in which the patriotic sentiment would "ovc assistance to the develop out of trade. From the strictly commercial point of view such consideration will prove piphtabltv but from the broader point of view of the consolidation of the Empire synthetic consideration is vitally ‘ L-uld^bc Various concrete suggestions could made as to possible ‘mproveinoms m methods of organisation ; but and b most it is necessary to instil mto t lie minds of our trading interests are not dealing with a, country which sets merely business considerations above all others but with a British country vvho=o Government, local authorities. business people and general public allow their bclicMu Empire to influence their and daily life. If this is realised a different tone will prevail in our business. associations with" New Zealand, which in itsc f will produce important results and will ultimately bring with it such improvements iu organisation, as are necessary. To any suggestion that trade between the Mother 'Country and Now Zealand might be developed, the dominion vyill certainly say that, she is ready and anxious for such do vclopment—iu fact, her recently revised preferential tariff was a practical expression of her desire for this development-but she will equally certainly say that But.un has not vet taken full advantage of the opportunities which tho dominion freely offers. BRIDE OF ANCESTRY. "No part of tho King’s dominions says The Times, in a leading article, lias a larger proportion of men of pure British descent than New Zealand. Judging from the account given by Mr R. W. Dalton, prido- of ancestry is reflected in on cry phase of public life and character. _ Mr Massey has declared that one of his chief ideals has been to make Now Zealand a ‘model British community.’ ‘always ready to do its duty in .maintaining the principles of British nationhood,’ and Mr Dalton insists, after six years spent in tho islands, that this sentiment expresses the innate wish of tho whole people. This magnificent Imperial snirit found expression in the heroic sacrifices of the Dardanelles and on tho plains of Flanders, but. New Zealanders do not react solely to the stimulus of a great occasion; their steadfast loyalty to a high ideal is manifest in the routine of the counting-house not less than in the exaltation of the battlefield. Ibo Government and public authorities arc not content with the substantial preference incor-

pom ted in the Customs tariff, but on numerous occasions have accepted British tenders that have been considerably higher Ilian those from foreign sources. Merchants and private consumers have followed suit, and in this its farthest outpost belief in the necessity for the consolidation of the Empire has become a universal article of faith. “Let no one suppose, however, that New Zealanders are content to trust to sentiment to secure markets for their products; on the contrary, no practical step is neglected that may assist the _ development of the trade of the dominions. Plans have been adopted for controlling and improving the handling and marketing abroad of New Zealand moat, and a similar project for dairy produce is under discussion. New Zealand has not been content with ‘existing channels,’ or with a haphazard development of the British market. With Government support, the producers have organised a system for carrying the principle of co-operation, already so successful in the dairing industry, into the export trade. In no way dismayed by the natural handicap of enormous distance from European markets. New Zealand is determined to overcome this obstacle by efficient organisation. In this task she is assured of British sympathy, but sympathy alone is a poor substitute for that active spirit of reciprocity which must inspire Imperial trade relations if the Empire is to achieve its highest dostinv. It is unfortunate that Mr Dalton has to' refer to offhand treatment experienced at the hands of those to whom Now Zealanders have desired to transfer their business. If preference is to become a permanent feature of Imperial relations, it must bo based on reciprocity, and though hitherto this truth has unfortunately failed to secure adequate recognition in the Mother Country, realisation of it may well prove a welcome result of the Imperial Conference which Mr Bonar Law has proposed.”