WHAT IS “BRITISH”?

Southland Times, Issue 21264, 10 December 1930, Page 20

WHAT IS “BRITISH”?

AN AMBIGUOUS TERM.

(By

A. W. Hawley.)

Reports regarding discussions that take place at meetings of city and county councils and other public bodies at different times in regard to the policy which should govern the purchase of new motor vehicles indicates that many people are under a misconception regarding the true meaning of the term “British” as applied to motor vehicles. It is perfectly true that Canadians are entitled to call themselves British people just as we New Zealanders are, but surely it is misleading to the general public to describe any product made in Canada or New Zealand as “British.” Would it not be more accurate to describe goods manufactured in Canada as Canadian, just as goods manufactured in NewZealand are described as of New Zealand manufacture As a matter of fact the term "manufactured in New Zealand” is one which many thoughtful New Zealanders in all classes of the community are striving to popularize as one emblematical of honest and true value. The point is that the New Zealand manufacturer adopts the term “manufactured in New Zealand” in marketing his productions—he does not call such goods “Britsh” obviously because it is generally recognized in this country that the term “British-made” signifies that the goods are manufactured in Great Britain as applied to goods for sale. What is the reason for the strong sentiment, very deeprooted, which impels New Zealanders of all classes to proclaim preference for British products—that is to say goods manufactured in Great Britain—over goods manufactured in any other country? New Zealand’s Best Customer.

Surely the reason is that we all realize that Great Britain is by far the largest purchaser of New Zealand primary products of every description and that it is only to Great Britain we can look for that sup. port and financial assistance which is essential to enable us to develop the resources of the Dominion and fulfil our national aspirations.

In other words, it is a unique instance of sentiment, allied to sound business policy. That is the position in a nutshell, and anybody that cares to investigate the facts can prove it beyond doubt for himself. There has grown up in New Zealand the universal realization of the fact that New Zealand's only sure guarantee for her future safety and prosperity lies in the developing of the closest possible reciprocal trading relations with Great Britain, be. cause, after all, it is only by mutual support that both countries can maintain their commercial and industrial strength. It is realized that Britain can only continue to rule and be the greatest power for good the world has ever known so long as her manufacturing industries upon which her whole existence depends are maintained in a state of reasonable prosperity in the face of the fierce and ruthless competition which Britain has been experiencing in the world's markets, especially during the post-war period. That is the reason why campaigns have been organized in recent years to popularize British goods in the world’s markets, including- New Zealand. ' ’ In tho forefront, of the movement has been the British motor industry, which has at last succeeded in convincing unprejudiced New Zealanders that the British production is the most economical in the long run. So remarkable is the swing round in New Zealand to British motor vehicles that manufacturers in countries outside of Great Britain are in certain instances endeavouring to take advantage of this ever-growing realization of British value.