TRADE IN WAR-TIME

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2425, 1 April 1915, Page 6

TRADE IN WAR-TIME

POSITION IN WELLINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REPORT "General trade conditions during the season 1013-14 (says the Wellington ' Chamber of Commerce's annual report) ' were seriously affected by two momentous events. The general strike of October-December, 1913, materially re- 1 tarded the export trade at the opening of the season, and the uncertainty created in the minds of the business community following on the declaration of war in August last affected the closing months of the year. Realisation of the magnitude of the struggle iu which the great nations of the world are engaged and the uncertainty existing in the minds of the business community as to the likely effcct of the war 011 trade, caused many business firms to cancel their orders with Home manufacturers. Later, however, when it was found that British manufacturers were prepared and anxious to fulfil orders, and when it was realised that the value of the New Zealand export trade, particularly in foodstuffs aaa wool, was certain to increase during the progress of the war, orders were reinstated, and our oversea trade soon assumed normal proportions. "Up to the present the effect of the war has been comparatively little felt in Wellington itself. Since the outbreak of war business has been quiet, and no doubt there has been a decline in the volume of business done. There has not been a depression of trade; rather a restriction iu local trade. That trade conditions in Wellington should be so nearly normal is not surprising when it is realised that Wellington is largely dependent for its prosperity upon its export trade, with an export season lasting from September to April. Local traders, too, have benefited from the business resulting from the location of the Expeditionary Forces near Wellington; and the fitting up and provisioning of troopships. "The high prices realised for New Zealand exports have had the effect of increasing prices of our products consumed locally; while the altered conditions governing both supply and demand of commodities in tie world's markets, together with increased charges for freight, etc., increased the cost of many imported articles. Already the general public is feeling the effect of the increased cost of the necessaries of life, and this will be more felt during the winter months. The various regulations under the Regulation of Trade and Commerce Act, 1914, wliich have been gazetted_ since the outbreak of war, have been in the direction of restricting international trade, but the commercial community, recognising that the circumstances were extraordinary, has loyally supported the Government in its endeavour to prevent goods manufactured in enemy countries being imported through neutral countries and the staple products of the Dominion finding a -way into enemy countries. Ono matter which the war has brought prominently before the public has been the growth of the import trade from Germany and Austria during the last decade. The following are the principal imports from Germany and Austria: — Motor vehicles, cream of tartar, chairs, glass and glassware, musical instruments, lamps, lanterns, etc., grass seeds, plaster of paris, sewing machines, woollen goods, china and porcelain, earthenware, fancy goods and toys, ironmongery, scientific and surgical instruments, clocks, agricultural and dairying machinery, butter and wrapping papers, agricultural manures, manufactured stationery and printed matter, dyes, pianos, leather, salt, wood napthn, spirits, tinfoil, sheet zinc, textile goods. "To what extent this trade is likely t) continue after the. conclusion of tho war will in great measure depend upon the demands made by the general public. 11l nearly every case British goods are available. While the New Zealand preferential tariff in favour of goods manufactured in the British Empire operates against foreign goods,_ and this does, and will continue to limit tho imports tion of foreign goods, no artificial barrier such as this will be as effective as a settled determination on the part of New Zealand consumers to insist _ mi being supplied with articles of British manufacture. Manufactured lines from Germany and Austria represent invariably cheap articles, and the public will often have to decide whether they are prepared to buy a British article at possibly a slightly increased price in preference to tl'io foreign manufactured article: Merchants will import goods to satisfy tho public demand. It is for customers to see that tho demand is for British-made goods; importers can foster the demand by stocking British goods, and in turn the British manufacturer will need to see that his article suits the requirements, of the colonial • market. "Another matter which has also been brought into prominence is the quantity of cargo for New Zealand and Australia from Continental and Mediterranean neutral countries, -which is being carried in German bottoms. A great deal of the cargo from the United States has also been carried in German-owned vessels which have been chartered by British and American shipping companies. It behoves New Zealand importers to stipulate that careo be forwarded in British-owned vessels."