THE COMING TRADE WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2566, 14 September 1915, Page 4

THE COMING TRADE WAR

After the present _ war against German military domination is over a great trade war i<> certain to commence. Now is the time to prepare for the coming; commercial struggle. Now_ is the time to educate public opinion on this matter. This was the object of the meeting held ,in the Town Hall Concert Chamber last night, when speeches were delivered urging the need for organised efforts to prevent tho Germans from recapturing their trade with the British Empire. The Germans openly boast that the world cannot do without them,' and that they, will soon make up the lost ground. It must bo admitted that they possess a high degree of energy, enterprise, and subtlety. They are already organising a great campaign, and we must be ready with an effective counterstroke. The speakers ' at last night's meeting strongly urged the necessity of starting a- vigorous movement in favour of the purchase of Britishmade goods in preference to articles made in Germany. The value of trade patriotism is one of the most striking lessons of the war. It will be the duty of tho Government and tho municipalities to set an example to the general public in this matter. The Mayor voiced the feeling of the I whole community when he declaredthat tho City Council would feel disgraced if it sent contracts to an enemy country. Our first aim must be to make our own Empiro as selfsufficient and as self-reliant as possible. This can only bo done by the systematic development of trade within the Empire. This does not mean that the various British States are going to cut themselves .off entirely from the outside world. We will still have extensive business relations with foreign countries; but we must take every precaution to see that our Allies derive as much benefit as possible from this department of our commercial activities. Our National Government's Budget makes a beginning in the matter of keeping Gorman goods out of New Zealand. But muoh more should be done. A strong public sentiment against the purchase of articles manufactured by our enemies must bo created and maintained, and the Empire must organise itself for trade as it is now doing for \yar. The declaration of last night's meeting in favour of a surtax on German goods, preferential trade within the Empiro, with modified preference to our Allies, will have the support of the great majority of tho people of .Now Zealand, The British manufactors also have a duty to per*

form, They must do their .utmost to meet the special requirements of the Oversea Dominions.