NEW ZEALAND INTEREST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22068, 26 September 1933, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND INTEREST

PRIMATE'S COMMISSION. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, August 18. The Church of England Newspaper quotes at length from the report issued by the Commission on the Ministry of the Church to young people appointed by the Primate of New Zealand, remarking: "The commission makes some very useful and pertinent recommendations, and those who are interested in what is being attempted in this far-off diocese should get copies of the report from the honorary secretary, Mr G. Halsey Rignall "—whose address is given. LOOKING FOR. SOMETHING BETTER. According to "Men's Wear," a good autumn season is anticipated by hat manufacturers in Stockport, Denton, and the other northern hat centres. The Manchester representative reports that the trade had been busier recently than for many a long day, with the staff working overtime. Business with South Africa had been distinctly good, while New Zealand and the Scandinavian markets are taking more interest. Overseas buyers are becoming more concerned with quality than with price—an encouraging sign. "The overseas markets," said a manufacturer, " have had enough of cheap stuff from countries where cheapness is the great consideration. Now they're looking for something better." Effects on prices, if any, of the increases in the tariffs on imported hats and hoods are not yet apparent, as there are still large stocks of foreign hats and hoods in this country to be cleared. The object of the tariff increases was to enable British manufacturers to compete more successfully in markets hitherto virtually closed on account of uneconomic prices, especially in the lower grades of hats and hoods from Italy and Japan. "KOW-TOWING TO RUSSIA." The National Review for August refers to the speech which Mr Forbes made in London at the luncheon of the New Zealand Society when' he took the opportunity "to tell us something of the troubles of the. New Zealand producer." One reads: Should world agreement at the conference not be reached, the New Zealand Premier observed that:- It would eeem that our next step will be to -investigate to the fullest extent the possibilities of an increasing interchange of trade between the various countries of the British Empire in furtherance of the Ottawa Conference." The conference having failed, it _is hoped that this interchange of Empire goods is now being considered. Mr Forbes had a good deal to say about the burdens of the debts which are made so much heavier by the drop in the price of New Zealand's means of payment, namely, foodstuffs and wool. But, although keening up their debt services had been a" great effort, and had restricted purchases from the rest ot tne world, New Zealand remains one ot ' Great Britain's best customers In the past five years they had bought from the United Kingdom £31,000,000 more than Denmark, £50,000,000 more than Russia, £4?,000,000 more than Japan, and £26,000,000 more than China. These figures should be studied by all who have an open mind as to the value of interimperial trade. If our Government would cease kow-towing to Russia, and would concentrate on Jimpire trade, how much better for Britain at home and overseas. EMPIRE TRADE. Mr James F. Holt, a Birmingham resident, writes in the local Post:— A typical instance of the way in which our export trade is being blocked by political muddling is provided in a letter just received from New Zealand on the matter of shotguns. This trade, with which Birmingham is closely associated, has been quiet for some time, and the reason Given is the excessive price of cartridges on the other side. These retail at 31s per 100, which is more than people can afford in these hard times. If it were not for the heavy duty and exchange, for both or which we are indebted to politicians, British factories could land cartridges into New Zealand at from lis to 14s per 100, to the benefit of all concerned. This is only one of many instances that could be cited, and the result is that many thousands of our workpeople who otherwise could be usefully employed still remain on the dole. . . . It seems impossible to rouse our politicians or instil into them any appreciation of the present trading difhculties. As usual with large majorities, they are thoroughly comfortable and content with a policy of drift. Unless something is done pretty quickly to remedy this state of affairs, many of them will find a rude awakening at the next election.