BRITISH-MADE GOODS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2533, 6 August 1915, Page 7

BRITISH-MADE GOODS

PREFERENCE URGED BY CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE GERMAN- TACTICS TO RE OPPOSED. 'H .' V" ■ The conference of representatives of 'New_ Zealand; Chambers of Commerce was , . continued yesterday, Mr. James' Macintosh (Wellington) presiding. The principal, discussion during the day concerned the question of fostering trado within tho Empire. Mr. G. . Wiokham,. British Trade Commissioner in New Zealand, addressed the conference on the subject of British trade. '; He described his own office and the functions of the British' Board- of Trade, and claimed that an efficientlylun organisation,such;as the existing service was; endeavouring to bo could be ; , very largely instrumental in promoting Empire trade in.all its aspects. He wish-. . ed : to'impress upon the conference that the service was even at the present time a great deal m'ore efficient ' that was generally understood. The conclusions he wished to draw were:— (1) TJie work of a Government organisation was intended to supplement, not to replace, commercial effort and initiative.' (2)>.There, were natural limitations.,t>n the .operations of any such body which ■ represents.'.'the interests,of all,in' that it cannot confine its efforts to the interests . of only, one section or. individual.. : : (3) The,system was not perfect, but it was useless and foolish to abuse one or . both without investigations to see where -. the 1 fault'lay, and study to see how b.oth . might be- improved. (4) . Such faults as ,there were, both it the system, and the officers, were largely due not to the Government, but to business men, who were for l ever blaming Government for not assisting them, and yet would not take the trouble to study, : criticise, intelligently, and so make useful the assistance offered. • The conference oppressed its thanks to Mr. Wickham for his address. Suspending Trade with the Enemy* . A remit was then introduced by. Mr. R. W. Waterhouso (Wellington) in the following, fornix— "That, tliis conference of Chambers of Commerce consider, tho advisability of inaugurating a movement to tako advantage: of- the .suspension, of',' trade ' with' enemy countries, with a.-view; when peace is declared, of diverting sucli- trade, and of, developing), trade with ' the,' Empire and with allied; nations :—{a.) •; By ing lists, of articles (formerly imported from ■ • enemy. countries,; with a view : to 'ascertaining whether , such ? articles can : be manufactured in' New Zealand, obtained from within the Empire, or from allied countries. )(b) By impressing upon British manufacturers tho necessity of adapting themselves to New Zealand requirements, and giving New Zealand .importers equal' advantages in: the.'matter of freight and finance 'arrangements as have;;been' hitherto afforded, by foreign manufacturers. - (c) By taking such action as is necossary to urge on tho Government that from the termination of tho war ' all; imports frojn the present enemy - countries shall be subject to a heavy' surtax, ih : order to stop, uf possible; imports from enemy countries; and, further, that preferential trade 6haU obtain within the Empire, and-modified preference to our Allies. (d) By taking steps to arouse arid keep- alive public- interest ■ '■■in this: question, 'so-that wmsumera may be indiioed to ask foT British T made,goods, - or goods made by Britain's VAllies. To give effect to clauses' (c) and (d) it is proposed: (1), That. the. delegates to .this conference arrange for ■ the holding of British; patriotic trade protection meet" jogs, at each pity and town of/.moment through the Dominion on the evening of ( say, ' September 13, • simultaneously, at which addresses by representative men; shall be 'given in support of the . above res<jutions with' a' view, to impressing ■ thß-gravity of the question on the public mind: eipenditure; involved to be borne by. aach-'looal-chamber-.)- (2)-fThat-a full report of-eaoh'such-meeting-be communicated' to the Prime Minister. (3) ' That each chamber be asked to appoint a special committee to .watch this question, and to report to the executive of tho federation of New Zealand Chambeis of Commerce. (4) That' delegates to this conference recommend their ' respective) chambers.to request their members to notify> the special committee, 6et up under Clause (3),'- of : any German or Austrian tactics coming undor their notice which they consider may be detrimental to.British trade interests." 1,.The Discussion. The-' irioyer said that the question- was one .deserving - immediate attention. It was a sad.reflection.that we by trading with '.Gernwuiy. on - the terms we nad traded in the past had provided, her with, the support,!she. needed ..to manufacture guns and ammunition, and .we were now paying the'price of our folly in British ' blood; Mr., WateAouse "declared that German capital was still'being employed . in thfe They should urge ■on • the Government the necessity of ' taking .-. steps -to -locate this capital. ■ Mr. H. G. Hill seconded the motion, ■ ' and; read a paper on tho subject. He approached the question from a purely ■ business point of view, contending that the transactions of a Dominion should be looked at in the same way as a single business transaction. Ae 90 £er_ cent, of -our exports went, to Great Britain it was Sound Dusiness' that preference should be .- given to British, goods. V Mr. W. Gow (Dunedin) hoped the con- : ferenco would reject clause. (c). He thought that phase of tho-subject could be better dealt with at a later stage. Mr. ,H. J. Marriner (Canterbury) declared that Germany had behaved treacherously in return for the favours she lad received;under the British) system of. free trade. ' The measures proposed by - Clause fc) were not too stern, for if vigorous; steps', were, not taken there would .- be ;a" repetition; of -the present worldwar. in 15 or 20 years' time, f ■ i After further discussion, the remit was ' agreed to. Reciprocity. The following -remit Was infaodnded from' Taihape"That this Conference of New .Zealand Chambers of Commerce resolves to undertake the formation of a ■league with" the following primary -. ofc J'eots :—(a) -Affording the people of this Jomimon an\ opportunity of uniting as one recognised body to actively support the cause of 'British Empire trading.' (b) -Assisting. one or inoie of, the .New Zealand patriotic funds'-by applying the net profits of tho league for this purpose.-.'-- '. ' ■ '■■' I * This was referred to the executive of the federation for' consideration. Romits from Wellington Central, Canterbury, Invercargill, and Marlborough • referring to the question-of fostering trad6',within the Empire were withdrawn .on account of being covered by Mr. Waterhouso'a remit. A Temit from Hastings, containing a proposal to impose a poll-tax upon German subjects entering tilie Domi/iion, was unanimously rejected. With a view to assisting in the promotion of reciprocal trade relations between the Dominion of New Zealand and the Commonwealth of Australia, and further extending the existing reciprocal trade arrangements between this Dominion and the Dominion of Canada and. the Union of - South Africa, a resolution was carried directing tho executive to consider these, matters. Mr. C. M. Luke (Wellington Central) moved: ''That legislation be introduced making it compulsory for all goods imported into the Dominion to have tho country of origin clearly marked on. the goods, and package." Mr: T. W. Rhodes (Thames) seconded tho motion. ' In connection with this branch of tlio subject Mr. Wickham informed the conference that the Board of Trade had discovered strong objections to an Empiro trade, mark. There was an alternative, however, that goods could be market! "not mado within the Empire."" Even the Germans attached some importance to placenames and had gone to some trouble to make,use of the word "Sheffield" on some of thejr goods. . _A lengthy discussion followed, tho mo- . tion eventually being carried unanimously, Other Business. 'A' Resolution was carried approving the dpixnntmeiiit.'pf registered p.rivAte ! &isi* I- ; '

nees in place of local public assignees to administer tho Bankruptcy Act. A remit from Wanganui proposed, that the Bankruptcy Act should be amended in the direction of giving greater powers to creditors in the realisation of assets. The remit was carried after brief discussion. ' ■Remits concerning tho terms and conditions of bills of lading were submitted by tho Auckland and Wellington Central Chambers. Both were referred to tho Executive of the Federation. _ Under tho heading of "Shipping faculties" ■.•remits were adopted urging tho Government to comnl.unicate with the Imperial Government und tho Governments of tte other British Dominions, with a view 'to securing tho services fori British .trade of interned enemy vessels, instructing th/ 3 Executive of the Federation to thoroughly investigate the', matter of tonnage : available, for next season; recomniendini; the Government to take into consideration the establishment of a flat rate between Vancouver or San Francisco and the main ports iri New Zeaktnd; and urging 'the Government to take certain steps vrith a view to promoting some action likely to diminish or abolish the advantage which freight discrimination obviously conifers -on foreign manufao: On tile motion of the chairman the conference resolved: "That it is desirable that the Associated _ Chambers of Commerce of the Dominion should: (a) Establish' in tho chief centres- voluntary tribunals' of arbitration for the settlement if commercial and other disputes; (b) adopt "uniform rules governing such tribunals; ; (is) take' steps to acquaint the members ;of individual Chambers with these'rules, and encourage the settlement of disputes thereunder.". It was farther resolved: 'That the Gov: ernnient b6 urged to institute a system of cheap week-end railway fares throughout New Zealand as soon as circumstances pegnit." .