Improved Supply Of Goods From Britain

Chronicle (Levin), 5 February 1949, Page 5

Improved Supply Of Goods From Britain

" Reeeived Friday, 8.50 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 4. Steel and artieles made with stee. excepted, the supply of manufactured goods from Britain to New Zealand improved considerabiy in the past year. it is stated officiaily here. Buyers, it u added, find "great friendliness " . to New Zealand among British manufacturers and Government Departments. ■ This is based on the general goodwill towards thp Dominion whieh now ap pears to have become almost traditional together with such- influences as the fact that the Dominion has not msist ed, as some foreign . countries have, on making the supply for eertain artieles a conditions of long-term contracts foi primary produce,. This, it is stated has .o.byiously been appreeia-te^ in many quarters and the result Yhas been to make every effort to -meet New Zealand 's. requirement. Though steel ha.been so scaree in Britain it was found possible to increase supplies to the Dominion last year byo50 pqr cent, compared with 1947, Supplies of steel to New Zealand from Britain, however, remain half what they were in 1938. This, together with the fact that shipments from Australia have declined, necessitated the Dominion 's buying some high-priced steel. iiL.Bel.gium anjd .__Cg.eeliQa.lQAaMaLast year Britain provided one-third oi New Zealand 's requirements. Some slight improvement is hoped for in the coming year. The supply of ' artieles manufaetured from steel is still slow and likely to remain so* for some time, it is stated. The delivery of heavy capital equipment maehinery remams 18 months to three years after date of order. Other types of goods, however, including eotton and woollen materials, are now mueh easier to secure than a year ago and the posfition is improving steadily.