TRADE WITHIN THE EMPIRE

Otago Witness, Issue 3519, 23 August 1921, Page 26

TRADE WITHIN THE EMPIRE

MANUFACTURERS AND AGENTS CONFER, WELLINGTON, August 17. j A special meeting of the New Zealand | Association of British Manufacturers and Agents is being Hold to-day. Delegates from all parts of the dominion are present, also Mr R. W. Dalton, Trade Commissioner. Mr G. 11. Scott (president) gave a ; lengthy address, and moved — That in the interests of Empire trade and the protection of Empire industries the units of the British Empire should carefully consider their position in regard to trading with foreign nations, who, In consequence of existing policies, practically exclude Empire products. That the time has arrived for the Motherland and overseas dominions in conference to attempt to lay down a policy whereby inter-imperial trade could best be consummated and conserved. That at the present, time the best interests of New Zealand will be served by the expansion of trade within the Empire, with preference to Britain; and, haying this in mind, welcomes the Prime Minis- | ter’s expressed sympathy regarding the I extension of preference. | In moving the resolution Mr Scott stressed die necessity of focussing public attention and interest on British industries and Empire trade, also the need for arranging amongst merchants and the public determined loyalty and an enlarged sense of duty, specially in view of the present abnormal conditions, to kindred people and industries in the Homeland. There was abundant evidence that British industries were fighting for their very existence. A groat danger confronted us if increasing ; support of foreign products was perpetuated. The time, therefore, was most opportune for the association to give weight to its organisation and to the service of British industries. It was necessary to re- | mind the people of the dominion that our j individual and national economic safety de- : pended enormously .on the trade and sup - | port they would give the Homeland indus- ; tries. While New Zealand had continued to extend her loans from the United Kingdom : for development purposes concurrently, she ] had not expanded her purchases from the | Motherland ; she had steadily expanded her j purchases elsewhere. By 1919 the loans from the United Kingdom amounted to ! £95,708.000, 65 J, per cent, of increase., Since I 1910 the purchases had recovered considerj ably, and amounted to £11,839,000. This ! was vital to the producers in the United I Kingdom, and they should be given assist- ! Slice and encouragement to get into the I full swing of post-war production without being undermined during the process. Our duty, therefore, was to advocate Empire trade. The time was surely arriving when a united Empire might attempt to frame some of the terms of international reciprocity. bo long as units separately traded with foreign nations, without reciprocal international terms, they might do so to 'he very serious disadvantage of themselves and the Empire. Tariff revision would he before Parliament next session, and an opportunity would then arise for the association to emphasise the elaims of British industries and impress the Government with the advisability of collecting from foreign produets anv additional Customs revenue required Our trade patriotism, expressed in deeds, should not fall below tile standard of our own patriotism. The resolution was carried unanimously.