EMPIRE TRADE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13601, 5 February 1915, Page 8

EMPIRE TRADE.

< MEETING AT AUCKLAND

(Per Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, last night. .An enthusiastic gathering of over ICG prominent' citizens, presided over by the Mayor, carried a- motion constituting an Empire Trade League at the Town Hall.

/The Mayor explained that a number of business people who waited on him suggested., that the time was opportune to organise a sentiment for trade-within-the-'Empire. " In a lett6r of apology for unavoidable absence, Mr Bart Kent (president of .'.the Auckland Chamber of Commerce) strongly .supported the objects of the meeting. Mr A. M. Myers, M.P., also expressed by letter his strong -Sympathy with the objects of the movement. . He suggested the establishment of an Empire Trade Mark and the need for an Imperial Development Board. v

One letter showed that there were 'excellent prospects^ of a League beintr formed'. ;ini .Wellington. The Mayor moved : "That the time ,is : opportune to organise m Auckland ; arftl -'.elsewhere m New ' Zealand a movciinent m: favor, of trade within the Emjpire/;and this .meeting pledges its hearty support to any such movement." Mr W. A. Beddoe (Canadian Trade seconded the motion. He said it required the integrity of the Empire, to be called into question before ] the necessary 'action was taken. No 'trite Britisher wouM give comfort <io the enemy by trading with them. The German nation commercially was to be admired. • He had read their "Ten Commandments" urging the use of German things only. The Germans lived up to those professions, and such an example could with advantage be followed. 'New Zealand had paid over £2000 a day io Germany, and every eight days the Empire contributed the equivalent of a Dreadnought to the German Navy, and 39 of them m a year. In face of such facts, how .could: they continue to trade wiJJi Germany? Canada gave a preference to every portion of the Empire except Australia, because Australia had not given it. to Canada. New Zealand did not -give it to or receive it from Australia.; Why was that so?- It was not British, and it was not necessary. He suggested reciprocal preferential tariffs within the Empire, transportation facilities with a system of uniform freight rates of a permanent character, and the institution of commercial services "designed to bring together the exporter and- importer. • v The motion was carried unanimously amidst cheers.

It. was decided tliat an Association lie started to be styled "The Association > for . •- the Promotion of British Trade,",, membership to be within the discretion of the Executive and to be open to any British trader or manufacturer.