BRITISH EXPORT DRIVE

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21037, 13 February 1940, Page 2

BRITISH EXPORT DRIVE

EFFECT UPON WAR EFFORT TRADE WITH DOMINIONS The British manufacturers’ point of view with regard to the British efforts to expand the export trade is explained in the following letter received by the , New Zealand Bureau of Importers from a large organisation of British manufacturers:— “In brief, the feeling among manufacturing and exporting interests in Great Britain is that the war will be easier won if Great Britain can increase her export trade to all sections of the world where it is possible to conduct business on satisfactory lines, and of course it is the feeling that it should be possible to build up British' business in India, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, in the Malay States, etc. “In this country officialdom and business believes that it is more than ever necessary to increase export, and if during the last ten weeks bureaucracy has made it terribly difficult for manufacturers to get export licenses, nevertheless, pressure has been so strong on the departments concerned that undertakings have been given by the Prime Minister and the President of the Board of Trade that every effort will be made to facilitate a prompt issuing of export licenses, and provision will be found for ships to carry British goods to all parts of the world, thereby eliminating the storage which has been the problem at the docks this last 8 to 10 weeks. Congestion at Docks “Vast quantities of goods have arrived at the docks for shipment, licenses have not been granted, boats have left half empty. This state of affairs from this end is being speedily corrected. More and more raw material, too, is being released by the Ministry of Supply to British manufacturers. In fact, the signs are that every effort is being made to assist British exporters. All of this effort will go for nought if some assistance is not given by the Dominions for the purpose of making it easier for British goods to come into their markets.

“The feeling here is that all primary produce of the Empire is being taken over by this Government at fair prices. We are making provision with ships to bring it here. This speedy realisation of your primary produce should go a long way toward setting your sterling exchange position in order, and if this Government finds the money and the ships to bring your produce here, the argument is advanced by British manufacturers that this Government should suggest to the Dominion Government that they lighten the burdens so far as export from this country to yours is concerned. “We, for our part, have mentioned to responsible authority here the position that has arisen as regards the shortage of labour and stressing the point that as it is becoming a most important part of Britain’s war policy to export, it should necessarily follow that a

similar policy should pertain with the Dominions, as part of their war effort. and that they should make it easier for British manufacturers to do business.”