BRITAIN’S TRADE.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18804, 28 November 1932, Page 7

BRITAIN’S TRADE.

ECONOMIST’S REVIEW.

SOME HOPEFUL INDICATIONS.

INTERNATIONAL ACTION NEEDED United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright. (Received Nov. 28, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 27. According to the Economist's monthly review, the state of trade, in October witnessed a further moderate improvement in business activity, which has continued into the current month. There is a better feeling in the cotton trade, following a settlement of the labour disputes and wool prices arc well maintained. In the coal trade the current export demand in some areas, notably Scotland, is wed up to the quota allocations for this quarter, and an actual shortage in some grades is reported. As regards iron and steel Continental prices have again risen and are now fully on a parity with British. Three motor manufacturers have booked good orders and many of the lighter metal trades are improving. On the other hand leading engineering trades are more despondent. The continuance of the depression in shipbuilding has not been relieved. The fall in sterling is for the moment helping British business at the expense of other countries. The Economist concludes: The recent improvement in trade may persist for a time to the extent that we can depend upon our own market and other markets linked up with sterling, Ultimately, however, our own trade will be dependent on our purchasing power all over the world, and until the foundations of economic reconstruction are laid by international cooperation we cannot hope to make •much real and lasting progress in this country.