NEW ZEALAND TRADE

Otago Witness, Issue 3291, 11 April 1917, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND TRADE

BRITAIN'S PARTICIPATION. SOME INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS. Interesting remarks regarding New Zea. land's trade with the United Kingdom and other countries are contained in the report of his Majesty's Trade Commissioner (Mr R. W. Dalton) on the trade of thd dominion for the year 1915. The report mentions that "the United Kingdom main- 1 tained its trade with New Zealand at a, surprisingly high level, having in mind the difficulties under which manufacturers wera working." "While this fact is justifiaßlo cause for . gratification," add 3 the Trade Commissioner, "it should be remembered that, though the results are not yet remarkable, it,is an undoubted fact thafc tho manufacturers of certain countries nob so much affected by the war have taken tho opportunity of abnormal conditions tq endeavour not only to capture trade which was formerly held by enemy countries, but also to establish themselves in faca of competition from whatever quarter. To this end they have been assiduously apply-, ing themselves to the appointment of agentaj and the organisation of selling campaigns.i The result of these activities may be more apparent in the statistics for 1916." Tho total imports into New Zealand in 1915 were valued at £21,728,834, and tho Trade Commissioner has analysed the figures in order to ascertain what proportion of tho imports were "competitive" from the point of view of the United Kingdom j that is, consisted of articles that were or could have been produced in' tho United Kingdom. He shows that the "competi-' tive" imports were valued at £15.658,238, and that of this total the United Kingdom actually supplied £10,347,248. The classified figures under this heading are as follows:

" The United Kingdom's share of tha trade which may- be said to be availablo for British manufacturers remains at aboufr two-thirds of the total trade, a proportion which is nothing short of remarkable, having in mind that during the whole of tha year manufacturers at Home wore beinjr hard pressed to supply the enormous requirements of the war as well as being deprived of a very large percentage of their labour," says tho report. . "While duo credit must be given to the majority of the New Zealand buyers for their loyalty to former suppliers, the fact iha.\, in times such as those through which our manufacturers have passed, they should be ablo to maintain their trade, as this high level in a market so far distant speaks very eloquently for their enterprise, for tha efficiency" of the shipping lines, and for tha protection of the navy.' The Trade Commissioner mentions that the manufacturers of the United States and Japan have been particularly actiyo in establishing selling organisations in. the New Zealand market on a more or less permanent basis. "Nevertheless, - having in mind what the manufacturers at Horn* have been able to accomplish during tho war and the fact that productive methods have very much improved, there seems ground for believing that if during the war they do what they can to maintain their touch with tho market, when the war is over they will be ablo to regain their former position, if not to strengthen it. There is also ground for presuminjr that sf part 'at least of such success as foreign manufacturers have had in this country during tho war is merely temporary, and will automatically disappear_ when manuf facturers at Home are again in position to supply. It has still to be seen how far tho war has increased the competitiva ability of British manufacturers, but it may be presumed that they will be on a more favourable basis than ever before.

United Kingdom £10,347,248 Australia .986,231 Canada .- 592,310 United States 2.064.938 Japan '288,298 Germany ... , ... ... 48,469 Other countries 1,310,74* Total £15,638,238