THE BOND OF EMPIRE

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21411, 1 March 1935, Page 14

THE BOND OF EMPIRE

EFFECT OF TRADING NEGOTIATIONS APPEAL FROM THE GOVERNORGENERAL When speaking at the civic farewell in the city yesterday the Gov-ernor-General, Lord Bledisloe, made a warm appeal to New Zealand that too much huckstering between the different units of the Empire in their trade negotiations should not be allowed to interfere with Empire unity. "We often hear the bond of Empire spoken of as a silver thread," said his Excellency. "I ardently hope that on this silver thread, fo.unded upon proud racial traditions, great ideals, a common system of law and a common sovereignty, will hot be placed too great a strain by too much of the huckstering spirit. It is right and inevitable that now that trade issues have arisen between the Mother Country and the Dominions, each country should agree to some plan affording a reasonable measure of security to the industries of that country. I am convinced perfectly that although Great Britain is making a big effort to secure economic salvation for her farmers, the last thing her people desire is to deal any injurious blow to the primary industries of this Dominion or any other Dominion." Lord Bledisloe gave an indication that he would assist in smoothing out any difficulties which might arise between the Dominion and the Old Country on his return there. "I go home in the confident hope that with the knowledge now in my possession of the farming activities of this country and its great difficulties, and also with the knowledge of the farmers in the old land, I may possibly bear a humble but nevertheless an effective part in bridging the difficulties, should any arise, between the farmers of this country and those in England."

Reliance on Britain What New Zealand could at least with justice remind the British Government of was first, that New Zealand meant to maintain a high and uniform quality in its exported primary production; second, that New Zealand depended to the extent oi more than 70 per cent, of its primary products on British markets, while no other Dominion of the Crown depended even to half that extent on the hospitality of Great Britain. Lord Bledisloe said that he would not fail to place all due insistence on the importance of that factor. But it was an imperative requirement of New Zealand commerce to maintain not only a local or sporadic excellence in the quality of its primary produce, but a uniform excellence. In this element of uniform excellence New Zealand primary produce was somewhat deficient and this factor pulled down the price of the produce when it had to compete with countries like Denmark. "I want to emphasise that although the best of your dairy produce is better than the best of Denmark, the uniformity of quality of the Danish product places you at a disadvantage on the British market," said his Excellency. "I want to see the excellence of Southland cheese shared by Taranaki, Manawatu, South Auckland and all the dairy provinces in New Zealand. If that could be attained you would get at least 15s a cwt more than you do on the British market to-day. This applies to other produce. "Do not forget that Britain is your bast customer. Do not forget to trade with countries which trade with you, and bear in mind that that principle not only promotes international goodwill but goes a long way to solve difficult national and financial problems. Reciprocity in trade between the Mother Country and New Zealand is of the very essence of financial stability and mutual profit. It had to be remembered that Great Britain's purchases from the Dominion exceed very largely in value your purchases from her. Preference should be given goods from the Old Land over foreign goods of equal value."