ANGLO-COLONIAL TRADE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2719, 25 April 1906, Page 11

ANGLO-COLONIAL TRADE.

ENGLISH AND FOREIGN METHODS. MR R. J. JEFFRAY'S VIEWS. On Thursday afternoon Mr B. J. Jeff ray, who has been appointed by the British Board of Trade to visit New Zeala.nd and Australia in the interests of their trade with the Mother Country, addressed a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce. The president (Mr H. M. Clark) was in the chair. Mr Jeffray said he had been charged to inquire and report— (l) Whether and to what exient 'business is diverted from the colonies to foreign countries; (2) what the causes of the diversion are; and (3) by what means this diversion can be stopped and the current of trade made to run in its natural channel. Some people objected to Government interference with trade matters. They urged that British trade had been built by individual effort, and that the less Government meddled with it the better. The Commercial Intelligence Committee of the Board of Trade took the view, however, that there were many ways in which Governments might help to promote trade, and his object in coming to New Zealand was to get information, and, he hoped, some encouragement in his mission. In places like New Zealand and Australia foreigners had hitherto had some advantages over the Homeland in their consuls. The consuls did their best to forward the trade of their respective countries, . whereas Great Britain had no consuls or representatives charged with similar duties. To remove that disability he had been commissioned to nominate seven men — one for each of the Australian States and one for New Zealand — who should act as the Board of Trade representatives. It had been said that British trade with the Australian colonies suffered because of the excessive conservation of British traders, and their want of initiativeness and power of adaptation to local wants. It had been alleged, for example that when the representative of an English house called on a trader in Australia, and was asked if he could not supply goods of a certain sort, his ansiver was that he would write to his principals on the su s bjeet. This he did, and presently he informed the local trader how he had been snubbed for his pains, how he had been told that his business was to sell the goods he had or give place to somebody else. Quite different was it when the German called on the trader. " Certainly," said the German, " I do not know if we make the goods, whether we do or not you shall have them." In due time the kind of article desired by the Australian customer was produced. Doubtless, there was an explanation of the English apathy. The English maker reasoned thus with himself — " My capital is invested in machinery which is producing certain articles. It is working satisfactorily. I am not going to put down new machinery." This was why he spoke of undue conservatism, a want of adaptiveness and initiativeness, as lying at the root of the non-success of the British manufacturers in the colonial market. Mr Jeffray'' also laid before tho meeting some information in reference to the importation of goods by the colony, and pointed out the relatively more satisfactory position of New Zealand, as compared with Australia, in respect of the smaller percentage of imports from foreign countries. Tho President expressed the pleasure of the committee in listening to Mr Jeffray's remarks, and its sense of the practical and successful manner in which he had proceeded so far. Any assistance that could be given to Mr Jeffray by commercial men in Dunedin would, he was sure, be freely given. Mr Jeffray has visited all the capital towns in Australia, and other cities. He has also been in Tasmania and in Wellington, and intends to leave Dunedin on Monday in continuation of his mission.

Dr Ford Robertson, lecturing on the newly-discovered bacillus of paralysis, said that anti-serum treatment would have a trial, but he was not hopeful of success in this direction, as the results of this form of treatment in other bacterial diseases had hitherto been, with a few exceptions, very disappointing. Of Queen Elizabeth we read — " Cold made that monarch croak." To 6ave the Queen from catching one, Sir Walter spoilt his cloak. But had! she ruled ue now, you know, For very triflinsr payment, A bottle of Woods* Great Peppekuint Would save poor Raleigh's raiment.