NEW ZEALAND'S TRADE

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 45, 27 June 1929, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND'S TRADE

REMARKABLE GROWTH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LUNCHEON. SIR JAMES PARR ENTERTAINED (Received 9.25 a.m.) LONDON, June 26. Sir James Parr was the principal guest at a luncheon of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the'British Empire. Two hundred were present, including Lord Passfield, and many leading business men. Lord Iveagh, presiding, referred to the steady growth of New Zealand trade, pointing out that in 1880, New Zealand's total overseas trade was roughly tih millions, whereas last year it approached the hundred millions mark. He paid a tribute to Sir James Parr's outstanding triumphs in the field of education. -■ i

Sir James Parr, replying, repeated the figures, . showing that New Zealand was Britain's best customer per capita. New Zealanders were loyal in sentiment and loyal in trade. He congratulated Lord Passfield on his appointment as secretary of the Dominions, which he sincerely believed was a most important office in the Government,and was glad to see so distinguished a gentleman occupying this office. Sir James Parr admitted that as a young man he had studied Mr Sidney Webb's (Lord P'assfield's) books and adopted som e of his Fabian theories, but in the capacity of, a "Tory" minister (laughter). He hoped the new Government -would Ifot' be hard on the Empire marketing board which in New. Zealand's opinion had been a very t real and valuable contribution to Empire trade and was well worth the money spent on it.—Australian Press Assn.