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WAR AND TRADE

THE TIME FOR EFFORT. " "Tho war has shown us tho weakness of pur Empire as well as its potential; strength," says Sir Algernon F. Firth in an . article contributed to the'Trado Supplement of the London "Times." Cir Algernon Firth is president of tho Association of Chambers of Commerce, and lie is connected with some of tho important- movements initiated by thoBritish Board of Trado for tho protection and promotion of Imperial commercial and manufacturing interests. "AVo havo had no co-ordinated policy and strategy," he proceeds ; "no preparation for war; no preparation in financial 'matters; no regulation of slapping services; no organisation of our food supplies; we liave had no constrtootive Imporial policy with regard to trade and commerce, nor any organised attempt to develop our trade and proteot industries of vital import-' ance tp' the country. "In its broad aspects the Imperial policy tliat, ought to be followed ia plain," proceeds Sir Algernon Firth, after discussing some phases of tho present situation in respect to Imperial trade. "We must establish our Imperial trade on a sure and lasting foundation of mutual concession for mutual benefit. Tho war showed 113 how dangerous was tl;e position into which we had drifted. Wo had traded with our secrgt and potential enemies on oxactly as favourable, terms as we had traded With our own Dominions, where to a man tho population was readj- to fight for,tlio common cause. We had done . almost nothing/ to strengthen the bonds of trade between our own Dominions and the Mother Country. . . .It liad actually been possiblo for our potential enemies to 6eoure control of Imperial supplies of raw materials and ' 'key' industries which wero needed for tho defence of tiiie Empire. It is unnecessary to q\s.J borate this point, because it lias been explained again and lagain. Tho important thing is to seb' that such cases never occur again. , "A conference ; between the United Kingdom and the Dominions concerning trade matters is the" first step to be. taken," says Sir Algernon Firth. Tho discussion of reciprocal trado relations with tho Empire's Allies and tho possiblo rearrangement of tariffs would follow naturally. He does not state his own views in any detail, but ho mentions the importance of tho shipping question, and suggests that thero'are "somo thoughtful economists who regard inter-Imperial transport as providing a possiblo means of solving the vexed question of ' preferential trado." Cheap transport within tho Empire would be a potent factor in promoting inter-Imperial commerce. Tho position beforo the war was thiit in some casea German £oods wero carried more cheaply in British ships than were British' goods. "What wo havo to do now," adds Sir Algernon, "is to exert ourselves in an ordered, practical, and determined manner to main., tain that leaSing position in tho commerce of tho world which we havo held for so long, and, which is vital .to our continued extension as an Empire."

Messrs. Harcourt ami Co. publish 'a list of farm properties in their hands for sale. l[i'. E. J. Burnett, 84 Willis Street, Wellington, publishes-in this issue a list oi' small farms ho has for galo. The. aunual meeting of tho South British Insurance Company is to he held lin tflo Chamber of Commerce, Auckland, 'on October 12. Tnc transfer books of tho company will bo uloscd from Soptombor 27 lo October 12.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19160916.2.79

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2878, 16 September 1916, Page 11

Word count
Tapeke kupu
558

WAR AND TRADE Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2878, 16 September 1916, Page 11

WAR AND TRADE Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2878, 16 September 1916, Page 11

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