VOICE OF THE PRESS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19803, 19 May 1934, Page 9

VOICE OF THE PRESS

NEW ZEALAND OPINIONS „ Oh, To Be in England! Though New Zealanders have not a ; direct interest in the fate of the cricl ket tests, they follow the games with 1 the zest and often the sympathy of the i Australians. But the Dominion has > direct representation in the Davis Cup • competition. We do not expect to win, l but we are confident that the small l New Zealand team will give of its best. • Following the cricket and tennis tests, i will be the Empire Games, and in these • New Zealand has a good young team ■ ; headed by the record-breaking athlete, , I J. E. Lovelock. To complete a year of grand sport, England will stage the start of the greatest race in history—the England to Melbourne air race for the Macßobertson Trophy. And even in that there is a prospect of New Zealand participation. Who would not wish to be in England this year!— “Taranaki Herald.” Regrettable Publicity It is to be deplored that New Zealand, on the trading question, has been dragged into the party arena in Britain. The facts of the case, which were accurately explained by Mr Thomas, are well known in the Dominion. The New Zealand inquiry was in no sense an offer to make a drastic reduction of tariffs on British goods, or lift them entirely, in return for an unrestricted market. Somewhat unwisely, and possibly impulsively, the New Zealand Government cabled tins inquiry, believing that the answer would effectually silence those who i were contending that it was the tariff [that stood in the way of an open market for dairy produce. Had it been imagined that the message would have aroused such political commotion in Britain it probably would not have been dispatched.—“ New Zealand Herald.” Our British Trade Connection. The inter-dependence of Great Britain and her dominions is becoming more and more evident as was demonstrated at Ottawa where even New Zealand’s comparatively small amount of business was considered of primary importance. Despite the threat of quotas and the contention that the farmers of England and Scotland must have the cream of the market for themselves, the fact stands out in bold relief that we are in no danger of any immediate loss of trade, and as the ordinary commerce is restored the demand for foodstuffs will increase. The chief requirement in any business is quality and the old adage that there is plenty of room at the top will always be confirmed. Nearly all our marketing troubles may be attributed to attempts on the part of the unsophisticated New Zealand organisations to exploit the shrewd merchants of Tooley Street.—“ Southland Daily News.” Tariffs and Quotas. An undertaking was given when the Ottawa agreement was signed that New Zealand would investigate the tariff situation with the idea of giving greater encouragement to British manuactures, especially in lines which New Zealand could not make profitably. That inquiry has been held, and British manufacturers have presented their case, but so far the report of the investigating body has not been made public, and. therefore, it is impossible to form any estimate of the degree of stubbornness New Zealand is maintaining in its attitude to the tariff issue. Until there has been a definite indication of New Zealand's purpose in connection with the tariff, it is futile to talk about using tariff concessions as a means of securing some relaxation of the quota terms. Manufacturers in the Old Country have their eyes'on the export trade and any action which increases their production costs will not be welcomed.—“ Southland Times.”