The Daily News SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1934. RELATIONS WITH BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 June 1934, Page 6

The Daily News

SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1934. RELATIONS WITH BRITAIN.

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Two addresses well worth the consideration of the public throughout the Dominion were delivered on Thursday. One of them was a review of the present economic affairs by the Governor-General in addressing the Auckland Chamber of Commerce; the other a public address by the Minister of Finance, the Rt. Hon. J. G.. Coates, at Cambridge. Lord Bledisloe’s position removes him from any suggestion of participation in political or even economic conflicts within New Zealand, while both these important matters are obviously problems that the keeper of the public purse and the leader of an important political ■‘party must have ever before him. It was somewhat remarkable, therefore, that the well informed, dispassionate observer and the busy political leader - should, to audiences in different centres, lay stress upon the need for close co-operation with Great Britain in the new economic chapter of the Empire’s history which was opened with the abandonment of the socalled “free trade” policy of the United Kingdom. Lord Bledisloe pleaded for a recognition by the commercial community “of certain trends of economic policy common to most civilised countries,. and apparently crystallising in Great Britain, which is your chief overseas customer and (in spite of unfortunate current divergencies of view) your steadfast friend as well as your sympathetic mother.” Mr. Coates dealt with the matter from the exporters’ point of view. Somewhat naturally he defended the Ottawa agreements, and claimed that they had at least assisted the sheep and pig farmers of the Dominion to overcome their difficulties. The Minister expressed regret that the opportunity of coming to a voluntary arrangement with Britain’s representatives in regard to a quantitative agreement for exports of meat had not been taken advantage of, and proceeded to urge that all exporters of New Zealand produce “should watch carefully the policy of Great Britain in primary industries and commercially.” Mr. Coates stressed the point that Britain’s altered policy made it imperative the Dominion should prepare a plan to meet the altered conditions in the United Kingdom; in other words, New Zealand should follow Britain’s example, of planning ahead. The two addresses contained sage counsel, and should receive full heed and warm support by the exporters of the Dominion. The advice is particularly timely seeing that an inquiry into the future of the dairy industry is now in progress. There have been times when the assistance afforded that industry by the merchants of Great Britain and by the authorities there has not only been overlooked, but baseless charges have been made against traders to whom probity of conduct is as essential as the air they breathe. In such difficult economic circumstances as obtain today there is need for the full recognition that Britain is not only the Dominion’s principal oversea customer, but is also her steadfast friend. Nor must such recognition be one-sided. New Zealand must be prepared to meet the wishes of her friend wherever possible, and to do so ungrudgingly. In commercial affairs rivalry does not necessitate personal enmity between competitors. On the contrary, it is regarded as a stimulus to greater efforts towards efficiency, and upon many matters

there can be common agreement that does not interfere with personal initiative in the search for trade. The “trends of economic policy,” to which the GovernorGeneral referred, are beyond the control of the Dominion. Their effects nevertheless upon her welfare are only too apparent. In such circumstances the wise trader will see not merely how much he can demand from a friendly competitor, but how far he can shape his business policy to accord with that of a rival who is also his most important customer. That is the attitude Lord Bledisloe and Mr. Coates urged upon the exporters of the Dominion, and they will be wise if they give heed to the advice.