TRADE OUTLOOK

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14767, 5 October 1921, Page 2

TRADE OUTLOOK

SEEKING NEW MARKETS. XNTER-EMPIBE COMMEBCE AND PREFERENCE. SIR JOHN FINDLAY RETURNS.

On his arrival in Wellington, aßer a nine-months' tour of England, America, and Canada, Sir John Findlay, K.C., was asked by a representative of the New Zealand Times if he could indicate or suggest lines along which New Zealand was likely to move on a sounder economic position than was being experienced in the Dominion. Wool for Central Europe.

"I can claim no expert knowledge in respect to such matters." answered S ! r John. "But, during the last six or seven months, I have heard much well,in formed discussion upon this topic. There seems to be in England, at any rate, a fairly widespread belief that the depressed position of our will is due to war accumulation of that commodity. How to deal with these is admittedly a perplexing difficulty. It seemed to me that the best solution was that advocated by some of the experts I met, namely, to sell our wool to Poland and other Central European countries, on such terms as to payment, no -matter how distant, as can be arranged."

Payment Guarantee.

"Do you mean in the open market, or subject to the limitations prescribed by the wool realisation associations?" "In the open market, certainly," said Sir John. "It is urged," he continued, "that, although the present position of the buyers would, in such a case, provide no guarantee of payment yet some 1 measure of reasomblc expectation tfiat the wool would be paid for ultimately is better than to permit these accumulations to continue to demoralise the market. Trade in Primary Products.

"It", seems generally recognised Id London that we cannot satisfactorily compete with certain other countries, notably the Argentine, in beef. But 5n respect to butter, lamb, and mutton, it is confidently asserted that we have nothing to fear. I found, in many quarters in England, that New Zealand butter is regarded as the best on the English market, and I was applied to more than once for information as to where our butter could be obtained. In providing this information the High Commissioner's office could do much. Inter-Empire Trade

"A proposal that is gathering a rapidly-increasing favour in England is that of promoting trade with'in the Empire by a well-devised system or Imperial preference, and it is gratiryinp: to remember that Mr Massey has always vigorously advocated this proposal. Indeed, I think it may be fairly said that, with the passing of a resolution moved by Mr Massey at the 1!M8 Imperial Conference, the principle was adopted by the British Cabiict, and bas already been priven effect, to, with marked benefit, to India and Effypt, and, to a "juch smaller extent, to ourselves. This principle has been expressed in England in the phrase The Empire's poods and commodities for the Empire's people, as against foreign producers.' In England, too. I found, all the time I was there, that leading British statesmen and prominent representatives of overseas Dominions exhibited a strong and ea.eer desire for closed relationship of all kinds, including commercial relations with India." Old World and New. "Our position to-day is admittedly depressed by stagnant markets and low prices." said Sir John, "but it is better than that of any other country that the war has directly affected. The eyes of very many people who \vcre\ suffering from the distress prevalent in the Mother Country are turned towards this country with a longing desire to be here. Without, in any way rJesirincr to under-estimate the hardships we are now encountering, it may, I think, be truly said that wc do not, in contrast with the plight of other British people, know how well off we are. We have been taught, much less than !«ur kith and kin in the Old

.World, the bitter lessons of war. We have never known the rigorous ration- \ ins of even necessaries of life, which prevailed so lons there, and these correctives to private expenditure and extravagance have not really influenced ns. at least so far as any substantial effect upon our mode of living is concerned. Purely there is no doubt that, with such a country and such a people as ours, there is not the least, just.itiratton for gloom or despair, if a cor- \ dial co-operation of all classes can be promoted; if waste, where unavoidable, js avoided, and a strict, economy enforced, both publicly and privately. lh-3 was out. from our present, depression to a broader- and an ampler day will not, be lons."