EMPIRE TRADE

Southland Times, Issue 19690, 24 October 1925, Page 7

EMPIRE TRADE

PREFERENCE THE BEST STIMULANT. MR AMERY’S VIEWS. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and IT.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, October 22. (Received October 23, 8.5 p.m.). Speaking at a dinner to promote the use of Canadian products, at which the menu consisted of Canadian produce, Mr Amery insisted that the most effective way of promoting Empire trade was by Preference. He declared the obvious commonsense of such a proposal would eventually commend'itself to Britain and every other part of the Empire. Opposition to Preference was due to preconceived economic theories with something of the religious about them which could not be shaken even by the most obvious appeals of commonsense. But a beginning had been made. The principle of Preference was firmly enshrined in the policy of Britain at the instance of a Cabinet representing all parties. Much had still to be done by effective organisation, better publicity and the goodwill of the people. As suggested by the Economic Committee, trade was not so much a matter of politics as of custom and habit. NEED FOR MARKING COUNTRY OF ORIGIN. LONDON, October 22. (Received October 23, 725 p.m.) The Federation of British Industries has written to the president of the Board of Trade urging the vital necessity for the introduction of legislation to enforce the marking of goods with the name of the country of origin. The Federation states that in view of the Minister’s support the “Buy British Goods” campaign has gained increased importance. There is ample evidence to show that the public desires to follow the advice, but difficulties arise owing to the sale of unmarked goods. Retailers, and even merchants, are often innocently misled into passing off foreign as British goods, while the law at present facilitates this being done deliberately by unscrupulous traders.