TRADE IMPROVEMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 229, 28 September 1931, Page 8

TRADE IMPROVEMENT

HOPEFUL ENGLISH SIGNS effect on the dominion export business prospects KEEN INTEREST IN CABINET WELLINGTON, Sept. 26. A hint from England that the financial developments there have opened wider the door for New Zealand produce giving this Dominion the opportunity to strengthen it hold on the British consuming publie, has aroused keen interest in the Coalition Cabinet, the members of which are devoting a great deal of time just now to the problem of the prima y producer, states the New Zealand Herald’s special reporter. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, said this evening there had been an apparent improvement in New Zealand’s prospects at Home, although more would have to be known before it was decided that a definite trade revival had begun at Home. Messages from England indicated there had been a revival of confidence among the business community, and, from the Dominion's viewpoint, this was a good thing. It was fully realised that any improvement in England would react favourably upon the Dominion, whose prosperitv was intimately bound up with that of the Old Country. It was for that reason that the developments in London would be watched with the closest attention in New Zealand. Basis of Prosperity. Mr Forbes recalled his statements made when he was attending the Imperial Conference, where he had said, as far as the Dominion was concerned, it was not much good England talking of protection unless she also concentrated upon a return to prosperity. The state of New Zealand’s export trade depended entirely upon the conditions at Home and it was not much good having the advantage of a protective tariff if the purchasing power of the people in Britain was not sufficient to warrant the Dominion’s exports to that of Agriculture, the Hon. D Jones, who is also chairman of the New Zealand Meat Board, foresees that the Dominion’s exports of meat ana dairv produce to England will increase Steadilv for some years to eome with proportionate benefit to the market in England for Empire goods. “Lambing throughout the Dominion so far has been good and promises to ensure an increase in lamb exports for next season.” said Mr Jones. There are manv people who believe New Zealand has reached the maximum of production. but with this I *• cause there are largi areas of land that are as yet indifferently fanned and capable, under good management, of increasing in output. Increase in Volume. “This is, perhaps, more 6<>with dairy produce than with meat. TheJmtterfat per eow is increasing year by year, and this in itself means a very substantial rise in the volume of P r ° d “ ce from the same area of land. With better farming methods and better stock our output can be materially increased, and I believe we are moving m this direction. There is no reason to doubt that our exports will continue to grow steadilv in volume for many years to come, and this will assuredly strengthen our position on the English market. The Hon. A. Hamilton, who is well versed in the problems of the primary produced, said the deureciation of the pound sterling in Great Britain through the removal from the gold standard had certainly made the outlook brighter in New Zealand as far as the primary producer was concerned and, after all, the whole country depended on the prosperity of the men on the land. There was a possibility that the currency of Britain might alter to such an extent that New Zealand would be deprived of any benefit. However, the position was certainly very much brighter and he was hopeful that the improved conditions would continue. The alteration would have an adverse effect in Britain, as far as paynig interest debts to other countries was concerned, and that might lead to the Homeland raising a tariff wall to protect British manufacturers against foreign competition. If that were done it would benefit the Dominions.