BRITISH TRADE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18481, 8 September 1925, Page 10

BRITISH TRADE.

OVERSEAS MARKETS.

MOTOR-CAR EXPORTS

(jilOJ£ OVS OWX COREBSPOBDBKT.) LONDON, July 29. On the occasion of the annual dinner in London of the Incorporated Society of Planters, Malaya, Sir Sdwin Stockton, who was unable to attend, wrote: "I imagine you were good enough to invite me mainly because I have at different times called attention to the proper treatment of our younger men who go overseas to build up our commercial fortunes. I shall, I imagine, meet with no criticism when I say that in these days when much of our export trade seems to be imperilled. at all events, temporarily, we,.need the very best and the very keenest of our rising generation to go overseas to champion our cause in foreign markets and to build up our Imperial trade. AVe were never more challenged by competition, and if the big commercial concerns of all types do not obtain the best men, treat them well, encourage them, give them a reasonable chance of prospering for themselves and their families, while building tip the fortunes of others, then I am convinced we shall suffer for it, not merely in the long run, but in the very near future." New Zealand Wools lamited. New Zealand Wools (Limited) has been registered as u private company with a capital of £IOO,OOO, to carry on the business of exporters, importers and sellers of and dealers in wool tops, noils, wastes, yarns, worsted, silk, cotton, hair, alpaca, flax, hemp, jute," mohair, cottqn and silk yarn, and manufactured fabrics, worsted and woollen yarn spinners, etc. The first directors are: Mr L. B. Andreae, Mr W. B. Andreae, Mr J. W. Armstrong, Mr L. A. J. Groote, Mr A. P. A. Nieholis, Mr A. Osterrieth, M.P., Mr L. A. M. G. Osterrieth, and Mr C K. Wicksteed, The registered office is at 23 Cheapside, Bradford. Colonial Loans. The "Nation and Athenaeum " is glad that attention has been.called by "The Times" to what has become a conspicuous feature of most colonial loans," the absence in the prospectus of any comprehensive and intelligible statement of the country's financial position. The Commonwealth prospectus contained a mention of the wholly inadequate.sinking .fund which tbe Government has to maintain under existing laws, but not a word that would enable the investor to determine whether Australia has been over-borrowing or how Australian credit should compare with that of other colonial borrowers. It is beside the mark tc suggest that the Commonwealth .Government might set the. .fashion in giving full particulars of its finances. Long ago New Zealand! set a fashion in this respect which was quite immaculate, but no other Colonial Government has condescended to iroitatiorf! "What the British investor required, and has not obtained, was legislation, say, a clause in Die new Trustee Act withdrawing Colonial stocks from the trustee list unless the respective Governments have issued certain prescribed particular* of their finances in a public prospectus." y British Cars. J "Motor'' publishes an anonymous letter, signed "Exporter," who says he always reads with great interest tn<a views of overseas readers regarding their motor requirements. "I have spoken to a great many Colonials on the subject. They enjoy a friendly grumble, but they are sound «t EM, and aro generally more pro- - British than many motorists at hoine. Mr McMilne, however, makes one statement that is demonstrably wrong, afc least as regards the motor trade, when he says that 'in this prosperous land— New Zealand—America, is gaining ground.' I have before me figures showing the imports of motor-cars and chassis into v Now Zealand during 1924 and the first quarter of 1925. These figures show that the British car has made a very definite 6tride forward in New Zealand. By number, nearly a fifth of the total during the first three* months of this year were British, and bv value nearly a third. The United -.States''has been displaced from second position to third. The position of Caii>da. atthe top of the. list is, of course, due to the preferential tariff on Empireproduced goods. " This is *■ the only market of any size in which the United Kingdom is above the United States in the'order of magnitude of imports."

Colonial Requirements. '■ i ' The urgent need for the development of chassis designed especially for passenger work is emphasised by the remarks made recently by the Transport Board of the Wellington (New Zealand) City Council while selecting the chassis for its passenger services on routes round the city. "Commercial Motor" comments that the British machines were found to be most suitable for the first category — buses for operating ou heavy gradients —hut in selecting the foreign vehicles to meet the second set of requirements —higher class express services—it was stated that the&e machines were not comparable with the modified lorry chassis put forward by the representatives df the British makers. ''This, we consider, is a very serious statement, and although it may be true of certain types, it does not extend to all, for there are now on the British market—and, we hope, duly represented overseas—chassis which should at N least be equal to, and, we believe, even better than, any manufactured outside this country; but their number is small, and'we believe that there is an evergrowing market .for such vehicles possessing a- low floor level, excellent springing, a. reduced number- of vreaxing parts and these of large and with a lighting and starting equipment integral parts of the machine, and not. as was emphasised by the aforesaid committee, /independent units tacked on to the frame or engine.' The committee of the Board engaged in the selection was struck by the statement of the makers of the foreign vehicles chosen—that they had been designed to give continuous service at a minimum maintenance cost, a factor of primary importance in bus operation."

"CALFSKIN WAR." The lot of the calf is' a hard one, savs the HawemSUr. Especially * ihe case m South Taranaki, where the manufacture <w* the»nii!k into cheese means a shortage of iV<T for the young animals and ibe resultant use of the knife. Howerer the destruction of the offspring of the dairy cow brings into being a small army of buyers who traverse the country, and at, this time of tho year, enter whole-heartedly into what is known as the "calfskin w*r." Competition is exceptionally keen, and these representatives of agents, west of whom buy en a commission basis, become exceedingly active. One farmer states that since July let he haa had no fewir thin twenty buyere on hi« farm—a state of affairs which seems to indicate that the farmer need not fear a slump in the calfskin market. Thin year prices are 6iightly in advance of those, offered last season, good skins at present bringing an average of Se, as compared with 4s fid last August. For another couple of months the "war" wiil continue, and by the time the dairy season is in full awing, skins representing a considerable sum of money will . have been bought) and sold.