BUY BRITISH

Southland Times, Issue 22490, 26 January 1935, Page 5

BUY BRITISH

TRADE RECIPROCITY COMMISSIONER’S TALK NEW ZEALAND’S PART The desirability of a greater measure of reciprocity in trade between New Zealand and Britain was stressed by Mr R. Boulter, C.M.G., His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner in the Dominion, in a talk at the luncheon convened in his honour by the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce. Mr Boulter also spoke of the marked improvement in the economic situation both in Britain and New Zealand and dealt at some length with the difficulties at present hindering freer use being made of the markets of the United Kingdom by the people of New Zealand. It was rather a private talk to business men than a formal address, and Mr Boulter made a request that portion of his remarks should be regarded as being given in committee.

The president of the Chamber, Mr C. B. Tapley presided, and among the guests were his Worship the Mayor (Mr John Miller), the chairman of the Bluff Harbour Board (Mr W. A, Ott), the president of the Southland branch of the Farmers’ Union (Mr W. J. A. McGregor) and the Hon A. F. Hawke. In extending a welcome to Mr Boulter on his first visit to Southland Mr Tapley assured him that his presence afforded great pleasure to the Chamber of Commerce, it being realized that much was to be gained through having His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner acquire first hand knowledge of the southern part of the Dominion and its people. It was gratifying to know that Mr Boulter was not making merely a flying visit but was spending several days in the province. The people of Southland did not believe in blowing a loud trumpet but they considered that the district to which they belonged was not the least important in New Zealand. He hoped that as the result of lus visit Mr Boulter would concur in this view. Southland possessed extensive agricultural and pastoral lands and had a very large export trade, as was borne out by the fact that Bluff was the fourth largest exporting port in the Dominion.

“I feel sure,” concluded Mr Tapley, “that with returning prosperity our trade with the Motherland will improve and that the balance of trade will be less disproportionate than at present.” Mr Boulter first extended thanks for the courtesy of the Chamber in arranging the function and to the chairman for his warm welcome. He would repeat what he had said many times in New Zealand—that there was no country in the world to compete with the Dominion in extending a welcome to strangers. Britain’s Recovery. Mr Boulter said that it was three years since he haa been in England, consequently he could not claim to speak of the improved conditions there with first-hand knowledge. From all one could learn, however, it seemed that the year 1934 marked a steady and satisfactory period of recovery. It was not yet a full and complete recovery, but it was a year which gave every cause for reassurance. The trade figures for 1934 disclosed that over the previous year the imports increased by 57 J millions, the exports by 28 millions and the re-exports by 2 millions. It could justifiably be claimed that the United Kingdom took a lead in the process of recovery, and as one leading British statesman had this week remarked the whole world would benefit from this recovery, the dominions first and other countries later. In at least one basic industry, that of iron and steel, there had been a pronounced recovery. Last year 6,000,000 tons of pig iron had been exported as against 4,100,000 the previous year. The respective figures for steel ingots and castings were 9,000,000 tons and 7,000,000 tons. This indicated that one of the greatest of Britain’s industries had stabilized itself. The wireless industry had shown rapid and continued growth, and the motor industry was also in a very satisfactory position, the year 1934 being the best ever experienced. For the first ten months of 1934 the exports of all motor vehicles, including parts, were valued at 9} millions, an increase of 1J millions over the corresponding period in 1933. The improvement in the motor industry had many repercussions in other branches of trade.

Shipbuilding also showed a recovery both on the Clyde and .the Tyne. In the aircraft industry Britain had proved in the world’s greatest air-race that she could build the fastest and most reliable machines. The completion of the link between Singapore and Port Darwin was of considerable significance to New Zealand, making as it did communication by letter between the Dominion and England so much more rapid. No doubt a passenger service would follow the mail service. One of the matters which had upset him most on arrival in New Zealand had been the length of time it took to communicate by letter between Wellington and London, and it was gratifying to know that the air mail service between Sydney and London had greatly shortened the time.

Perhaps in some other industries at Home the improvement was less marked but in the woollen, linen and artificial silk industries there had been a satisfactory recovery.

New Zealand’s Position.

Mr Boulter said that it was pleasant to know that in keeping with Britain’s recovery was the improvement in the economic situation in New Zealand. He did not have actual figures to quote but the export and import returns, the customs, sales tax and bank returns, all indicated that New Zealand had experienced a better “calendar year. He hoped the recovery would be reflected in greater purchases of goods from the United Kingdom by the people of New Zealand. For some years the percentage of the total goods purchased by the Dominion coming from the United Kingdom' approximated 50, which he considered was scarcely satisfactory. It would be to the mutual benefit of both countries if this percentage was increased. Greater prosperity in Britain meant a readier market for the primary produce of the Dominion; in other words the more New Zealand bought from Britain the more could the people of the United Kingdom buy from New Zealand. Mr Boulter then talked in committee concerning trade difficulties which placed England at a disadvantage. In proposing a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Boulter the Mayor referred to New Zealand’s dependance on the market and urged greater reciprocity. His motion was carried by acclamation.