TRUCKS AND PREFERENCE

Southland Times, Issue 19578, 16 June 1925, Page 9

TRUCKS AND PREFERENCE

To the Editor. Sir, —In the matter of the purchase of American trucks by the Southland County Council, I notice that one of the members of that Council asked what reasons could be given why British goods should be purchased. This to my mind is a very strange question for a member of a public body in a British colony to ask. Does he not realise that Britain is our Motherland—that we owe our prosperity, our welfare, and our safety to her; that over 80 per cent, of our exports are purchased by Great Britain? If Britain could not purchase our products, where else could we find a market? We could sell to other countries, of course, but all other countries have built such a high tariff wall that if we had to sell to them it would be at such a huge reduction in price that, instead of a rich country, such as we are at present, we would become a very poor one. Therefore, if there is such a thing as gratitude, we should give preference every time to British goods. The very money that the Southland County Council will have to pay over for these American trucks has been obtained from Britain from the sale of our wool, meat, and dairy produce. It seems to me a very unfair proceeding, as well as a short-sighted and bad business policy, for any public I body or business firm to spend money so obtained, in purchasing goods from a country that is such a strong commercial rival to Great Britain. If we wish to continue prosperous, the only way to do so is to give preference to British goods; by doing this we help to keep her prosperous and so enable her to continue buying our products at prices that are making this country of ours richer year by year. What proportion of our exports does America buy from us? She buys exactly 8 per cent., mostly rabbitskins. We spend too much in American goods; our picture Shows are all American. It is a disgrace to our farmers that they should spend so much money in American motor-cars, considering the source from which they obtain their money. If we want to borrow money it is the Old Country we go for it, and if were threatened by any other country it would be the . Old Country to whom we should look to for help and protection and get it, too. Therefore, we should reciprocate in the only way we can, by giving every preference to British goods—even if we have to pay more for them. I was delighted to read your leader on this matter the other week. It quite thrilled me, your Imperialism is one of the finest features of your paper. It is the Press that can influence so much in this as well as in other matters. Every New Zealander when buying imported goods should ask for British make and insist on getting them.—l am, etc., FRANK TUCKER. Dunedin, June 13.