The Taranaki Herald. DAILY EVENING MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1919. EMPIRE TRADE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16611, 8 December 1919, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. DAILY EVENING MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1919. EMPIRE TRADE.

W onderf ully stimulating are the opinions expressed by Sir Hamar Greenwood, Secretary of the Overseas Trade Department, and Mr. Amery, Under-Secretary for the Colonies, at a luncheon in London last week on the subject of British trade prospects. Sir Hamar Greenwood stated that the Americans were Britain’s fiercest and most efficient competitors in world trade. While Britain was fighting for its life, and incidentally for the freedom of the world, including America, from German militarist designs, the' Americans were absorbing the wealth of the world and securing markets which had not been theirs. Mr. Ameiy said he believed Britain’s position was intrinsically stronger than that of the United States and that “if - we make the utmost use of our resources we, will leave that country standing still, notwithstanding our present handicap.” Mr. Amery was of course referring to the Empire, not to the United Kingdom alone, for the latter’s resourfces are not to be compared with those of the United States. Great country as the United States is, the British Empire is greater in nearly every respect, and it only requires the same spirit of determination and

enterprise which enabled us to emerge triumphantly from the war to be exercised in the struggle for the recovery of the markets we have lost to ensure success. The British workman is still the best workman in the world and his inherent common sense will prevent him from involving his country in the troubles which are afflicting Russia. Americans who visited England during the war after the munition factories had got to work, and who were familiar with American efforts to supply munitions, expressed surprise at the wonderful work being done in the factories. America, the'" said, could teach Britain nothin' ll . Britain, as we have said, has the best workmen in the world; it has the best organising talent, the greatest inventive genius, and it has the whole world to draw upon for its raw material. This is in agreat measure the result of its Free Trade policy. Its workmen and its manufacturers have been forced thereby to compete with the best in other countries. The growth of British trade is no hothouse growth. British ports have b&en open and have attracted trade from all parts of the world. British ships have carried British goods wherever they were wanted and have done a very large part of the world’s carrying trade because they could be built more cheaply than other countries could build, and because British sailors are the best in the world. The war gave the Americans and the Japanese a great chance to secure the trade which Britain temporarily could not hold and there have been plenty of prophets of evil to predict that Britain’s sun had set, that she could never recover her commercial supremacy. Hence it is very cheering to hear men like Sir Hamar Greenwood and Mr. Amery, whose positions make their opinions of value, express the conviction that Britain will recover the ground she lias lost. It will, however, only be by making the best possible use of Empire resources. Within the bounds of the Empire, every raw material required for manufactures and' every foodstuff necessary for the people are to be found. All our efforts should be devoted to developing these resources instead of depending upon other countries for supplies. In the Dominions there is a strong feeling in favour of Empire trade and this should be fostered and encouraged in everv possible way by the Imperial authorities.