AFTER THE WAR.

Otago Witness, Issue 3213, 13 October 1915, Page 51

AFTER THE WAR.

FIGHT FOR THE WORLD’S COMMERCE. “ MONEY OR PATRIOTISM?” The Garrison Hall was fairly well filled on tho 6th mst., when a demonstration, arranged by the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce in co-operation with the Otago Expansion League and the Otago Trades ana Labour Council, was held with the object of advancing the claims of British commerce in preference to the goods manufactured in enemy countries. Mr G. W. Gibson (president of tho Dunedin Chamber of Commerce) occupied tho chair, and both on the platform and in tho body of the hall there was an assembly representative of all tho various trade interests in the city. Tho proceedings wore opened with an inspiriting selection of National airs played by the 4th Regimental Band (under Lieutenant S. S. George), followed by the hearty singing of “God Save the King.” At intervals Mrs Power and Mr A. G. Green contributed vocal items. The Chairman briefly explained the purpose of the meeting, and showed how it had been rendered necessary', by a recognition of the inroads which German trade had made upon British commerce, that recognition having been forced upon the nation even more emphatically after the commencement of the war. The movement had been initiated by the various Chambers of Commerce in the dominion, and similax meetings would be held in due course throughout New Zealand. —(Applause.) The Mayor said that in the gloom and darkness that surrounded their Empire at the present time, the one thing rising high and clear above everything else the inflexible determination of the people of the British Empire to see tho war through to a victorious end. —(Applause.) If they were content once the war was over to sink back into their old habits, and to buy in tho cheapest market and sell in the dearest, irrespective of where tho goods came from, then, he believed, that the w r ar would have been a useless sacrifice; but he ■ thought that they had learnt so much during tho last few bitter months that no longer would they allow that nation to walk arm in arm with them and plot to murder them in their sleep.—(Applause.)

The Chairman then moved —“ That this mooting of Dunedin citizens resolves that, with a view' of diverting trade previously carried on with enemy countries, and with the object of developing trade, both imports and exports, within the Empire and with allied nations, when peace is declared they will purchase goods, manufactured in the dominion (when such goods are available), or manufactured in Great Britain or British dependencies, or .goods made by Britain’s allies; and further resolves not to purchase goods which are the products of present enemy countries.” In speaking to the reso lution, Mr Gibson prefaced his remarks by emphasising the fact that because two nations were at war there was no reason why they should refuse to do business with each other w'hen it was over. They had, however, to remember that this war was not an ordinary war, and if they allowed their minds to go back they would remember that there was absolutely no reason why Germany should have gone to war with any one of the nations composing the Triple Entente. Sho -was practically asked by Sir Edw’ard Grey to state what steps, could be taken to avert war, but she had preferred the sword, and they had all seen the result of that policy of uithlessness. which had characterised her conduct of the war. Germany ns a nation was a criminal nation, for she had broken every Jaw of humanity, and had shown no regard either for tho sufferings of others or for her own honour. —(Applause.) Now, there were times when it was necessary to punish a criminal, and a nation that had behaved like a criminal would have to be punished as well. By trading with Germany at the close of the war we would be placing ourselves on tho same level with the Germans, and no higher, and it would be no excuse that we could .got our goods slightly cheaper. Continuing, tho speaker stated that the fact of holding such a meeting was something of a humiliation, as it should be unthinkable to all that there was anyone • in this community who would wish again to resume trade relationships with a nation that had brought so much misery into the world. But there were men in this community who would tell them openly that if, when the war waa over, they could buy German articles one shilling cheaper than British they would buy the German goods every time. —(“No, nol”) What they wanted to do was to rouse the conscience of the people and to bring pressure to bear on Parliament to make these things impossible. “We ask you,” continued Mr _ Gibson, “ on these high moral grounds, if on no other, to show your detestation of German savagery and frightfulnesa by buying no more of their products when the war is over.” Wo were told that in Germany there were largo quantities of goods piled up pending the close of the war, and also that Germany saw that competition was coming and was preparing to meet it. At tho present time every nation was disorganised from a manufacturing point of view, and would bo so when the war was over, because so many of their factories were engaged in making munitions. However, Germany was already preparing to get a start of the other nations, and our own country amongst them; and it was felt, therefore, that England should bo prepared for that competition from Germany when it came. Germany would attempt to flood the market with produce, at prices even lower than those sho had put upon her goods before the war. She would find it necessary to recover her overseas trade, and would endeavour to do so by appealing to the selfishness of the individual. Sir Joseph Ward had stated at a meeting in Wellington that taking the figures for eight months prior to the war tho annual imports of German goods would approximate £1,750,000, which meant that this country had been handing over to Germany £4700 every day. Ho could assure them the bulk of this country’s trade with Germany could bo diverted to England, and ho yvahted those present to realise that if they i i oing that this was done a. v< e . 'vice would bo conferred on tv. - the Brit isl i Empire, on its . ■ ’ ■ clep id ■;.jcie.;i. ;ui ' also on its a • .use.) Great BrHain had in tho p ■ * Vo .rown Open her ports to our t whih- the other nations had met ub mg-'i tariff

w-tills, and it was our bounden duty to support the country that bad done so much for us. —(Aoplause.) It would be well for everyone to remember what England had done for us and what Germany had done to us, and ho asked them if their patriotism was really sufficient to cause them to make, perhaps, some small sacrifice, and purchase their own people’s goods in the luture. —(Loud applause.) Mr It. Breen seconded the motion. He said tho resolution which they were called upon to pass pledged them to purchase goods manufactured in the dominion, when such goods were available. The organisaiton which he had the honour to represent had consistently advocated the encouragement of local industry. Three years ago the Otago Trades and Labour Council had promoted an Industrial Exhibition for the purpose of demonstrating to the people of Dunedin that many ol the articles imported from Germany and other countries could bo manufactured in New Zealand. In connection with that exhibition the council had the support of local bodies, and the leading manufacturers in Dunedin. In spite of the efforts that had been made in tile past, however, very few of their industries had expanded, and in many cases some of the industries established were still languishing for want of support. In Dunedin to-day, any man and woman could be clothed from the crown of their heads to tho soles of their feet, by articles manufactured by their brothers and sisters in their own town, and it was their duty when purchasing these articles to insist on being supplied with local manufactures.—(Applause.) Mr Breen concluded with an earnest appeal to those present not to be content with passing tho resolution, but to make a special point of giving practical expression to it by insisting on having goods manufactured in tho dominion where such goods were available.

Mr J. Inglis Wright spoke' in support of the motion.

The motion was put, and carried unanimously.

Mr H. P. Desmoulins moved the following resolution:—“That this meeting urges on the Government that from the termination of the war all imports from present enemy countries shall be subject to a surtax, and further, that preferential trade shall obtain within the Empire with modified preference to our Allies.’’ The speaker said that it seemed an extraordinary thing that they should come there that night and ask the Government to make them do something that they had already made up their minds to do. But they lived in extraordinary times, and they had to take extraordinary methods. They could be sure of this; that if Germany once got goods in they would be surely sold, therefore it was far better to ask tne Government to remove the temptation altogether, and, in fact, make the Government do it. The war was not over when peace was declared: there was going to be a greater war for the commerce of the world, and Germany was going to strain every nerve to obtain it.

Mr Bedford, in seconding the motion, said that there were three questions to be asked : what would bo the effect of a policy of restriction upon, first, our enemies; secondly. Great Britain; and, thirdly, our dominion? In assailing our enemy through the medium of a tariff, obviously they must avoid in iasures which would recoil with injury upon themselves. Provided, however, that their enemies wore vulnerable to fiscal attack, and they could escape serious damage to their own trade, he thought they need have no scruples about using whatever weapons were available to strike down tho trade of such a country as Germany. It must not bo forgotten that this war was tho culminating effort of Germany to wrest from tho Mother Country the sceptre of commercial and colonial supremacy. Every student of the commercial history of Germany knew that. From tho time List propounded his great scheme of aggrandising the German race by a national system of tariffs and State bounties to export trade, Germany had deliberately pursued a course of equipping herself for the commercial mastery of tho world. With wonderful astuteness sho had distributed penalties to foreign goods and subsidies to domestic goods until, for a decade before the outbreak of this war, “ made in Germany” had become quite a terror to tho British imagination. The point he wished to stress was that Germany for a generation had made her commercial policy subserve her military policy. The development of her mercantilo marine had had other motives than that of merely finding a market for her products. This war had been a dramatic revelation of those motives. They now realised that German commercialism had simply been disguised militarism. The realisation was accompanied with poignancy of anguish as they' remembered that they had in their trade relations contributed to the strength of Germany in preparing for the execution of her aggressive and devilish purpose. When this war was over they must, as far as practicable, hinder Germany from regaining commercial strength to strike another blow for militarism. This brought them to the crux of tho matter. Was it a practicable proposition to embarrass Germany’s trade? When they analysed the position as business men they found that, if they prevented Germany from selling in Now Zealand, they would also prevent her from buying in New Zealand. All foreign trade was an exchange of goods. If they were jireparcd to sacrifice their export trade to Germany they could certainly kill their import trade from her; but they could not do one without the other. The dominion, however, was so circumstanced that this need not occasion any loss, provided they could sell to Britain, on as favourable terms, the produce they formerly sold to Germany. Fortunately, their staple exports were goods for which tim'd was practically an illimitable market in Britain. In exchange for this quantity of produce sent to Britain they would got an increased quantity of goods from Britain. These British goods they would receive instead of German goods, and if they were equal for quality and cheapness they would lose nothing by shutting cut German goods. If the British goods wore superior to tho German in quality and cheapness they would gain. If tho British goods were dearer considering their quality they would lose. On the whole, the dominion stood to gain little, and she might lose a littlo by penalising German goods. Clearly, then, the policy advocated that night was not going to bo of great economic benefit to Now Zealand, and might entail a small measure of sacrifice. But uie effect upon this dominion’s wealth was not tiro only consideration, and should not be the. govern--ing one in determining them as to tho wisdom of carrying - tho motion. Ho supported it. for the following reasons:—(l) National sentiment led him to discriminate against German goods, and tho sentiment was worth encouraging whether is brought to him pecuniary gain or not. (9) Tho surtax' upon German

goods would embarrass Germany, and put an obstacle in the way of obtaining that world-wide commerce, upon the foundations of which she built her military designs. (3) Although Now Zealand nr ht not gain monetarily by preferring Bnt.sh goods to German, Groat Britain would. Trade with Germany was a single blessing; trade with Britain ' was. like the quality of mercy, twice blessed, benefiting both New Zealand and Britain. Patriotism led him to buy from Britain rather than from_ Germany, as filial affection would load him to buy from his father, were lie a merchant, rather than from a stranger. A man might got as good and as cheap a pair of boots from a stranger as from his father. Buying from his father gave him no special gam, but it did give _ profit to his father. (4) The war, bv annihilating the BritishGerman trade, had compelled the starting of new industries in Britain to make the things which wore formerly imported from Germany. There had been a corresponding destruction of those British •'ustries which sent exports to the Genoamarket. Thus the war had occasioned much transference of British labour and capital from one occupation to another. Now, whenever there wore vast shifting.? of labour and capital, there was much loss and suffering, particularly on the working class. If, when the war was over, the British Empire resumed the old trade relations with Germany, there would have to be retransfer enco of labour and capital, with further loss and suffering. If the various parts of the Empire after the war bought from the new industries in Britain what formerly was bought from Germany, there would, to the extent of such buying, be no need for re-shifting. (5) Their Empire must permanently adjust it commercial system to: the requirements of a state of war. Fifteen months ago many of thenBelieved that European nations had giw up fighting each other as men had given up duelling. Now they realised that the age ot international peace had not yet come, and might not come for generations. They must frame their policies under a recognition of the constant imminence of war. Britain’s commercial policy was almost ideal for times of peace; but it led her into making Germany the second biggest customer for her goods. War came, and at once cut off a total trading of £100,000,000 with Germany. Not only was that vast volume of trade suddenly susS ended, but, on the day of the outbreak, Iritain lost £80,000,000, being the amount, then due by Germany. Had moro of Britain’s trade boon with the colonies, much of this loss and dislocation would have _ been avoided. They should help Britain to cultivate closer trade relations with those countries with which she was likely always to remain at peace. Such were pre-eminently the colonies. What they should do was to cultivate a greater moasurp of freetrade within the Empire. He was entirely opposed to a policy which would maintain the existing level of the faritf wall against Britain while imposing a surtax upon German goods. They must accompany the surtax with a reduction of duties on British goods. Lot them begin to treat the British Empire as an entity, and its members as of one family.— (Loud and continued applause.) The motion was then carried unanimously. A NICE QUESTION FOR PATRIOTS. DIVIDED OPINIONS IN THE CITY COUNCIL. At the close of the ordinary business of the City Council on tho same night a keen discussion took place on a phase of the question of “trading with the enemy.” By a unanimous suspension of the Standing Orders Cr Shaddock, as chairman of the Electric Power and Lighting Committee, was given an opportunity of reopening- the question of renewing or repairing a traction battery. Cr Shacklock moved that the resolution of September 8 regarding the tender for a Tudor battery bo rescinded, and the tender of Messrs Turnbull and Jones of £lB2 7s for the same bo accepted.” Ho said that as a result of the council’s decision the engineer immediately went into the matter of spare parts for tho Tudor battery. Tho tender then was for £165. He (the speaker) had stated then that if the tender was rejected it would cost tho council £SOO to replace tho positive and negative plates. He was guessing in saying so. Tho engineer now stated that it would cost £975 to replace these plates. Since tho tender was before them the price had advanced 10 percent., and advices from Manchester said there was every likelihood of an advance of another 10 per cent. These plates were made in England. Tho company controllingtheir manufacture was a German company, but at the outbreak of tho war the British Government -had appointed a receiver to look after its affairs. It might be said that tho profits after tho war would go to Germany. Ho did not know whether that would be bo or not. These plates were being dailv bought by the British War Department for use in submarines, and so far as the Government was concerned these articles were looked upon as a British product. If tho council reaffirmed its previous decision it would be forced to spend £IOOO in reinstating tho whole of the plates at present in the battery. After an animated debate, tho motion was declared carried, the voting being as follows :

Ayes: Crs Carroll, Limn, Hancock, Wilson, Shaddock, Bogg, Scott, Douglas. Noes: Crs Sinclair, Taverner, Black, Green, and White Or Sinclair gave notice that ho -would take steps to have this decision reversed, and undertook _to lodge a notice of motion to that effect immediately.