BRITAIN’S TRADE

Wairarapa Daily Times, 3 March 1934, Page 5

BRITAIN’S TRADE

. i REAL RECOVERY • • ENCOURAGING EVIDENCE. .Press Association Electric Telegrarih—Copyright RUGBY, Friday. The belief, shared by the public, as well as by business and official circles, that Britain is making a decisive recovery from the effects of the depression, was strengthened to-day by a variety of fresh evidence. When the general meeting of the Southern Railway was held, facts supplied regarding improvement in conditions boro out the optimistic views expressed at the general meetings of the other three great railways, which had been held within the last few days. The chairman, Mr Gerald Loder, said that they were meeting in happier and more encouraging circumstances since the downward trend had been arrested, and the last year had shown a recovery.

“The improvement in trade and the return of a measure of confidence in the business outlook have provided the public with more money to spend,” he said. ‘ ‘ Railways are fair barometers of the rise and fall of a people’s means.” The large increases in revenue from both passengers and goods traffic were cited by him in support of his belief that the recovery already recorded would be maintained and accelerated. Sir Woodman Burbidgc, presiding at a meeting of Harrod’s great general stores, declared: “In my opinion we have seen the worst of the depression, and I think we shall see a continued upward trend in prices.” The improvement in British national industries was also remarked upon by Major Dunlop in his presidential address at the United Kingdom Chamber of Shipping to-day. He referred, however, to the ill-effects of international trade restrictions upon the shipping industry, since shipping was essentially international and depended ultimately upon the restoration of world trade. As the world’s biggest buyer, Britain could demand that adverse trade balances be reimbursed by a fuller purchase of her shipping services in return for the goods of other countries, and no time should be lost in overhauling the existing treaties. —(British Wireless).