TRADE AFTER WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2936, 23 November 1916, Page 7

TRADE AFTER WAR

EMPIRE PREFERENCE

COMMERCE CHAMBER'S PROPOSALS

RESTRICT THE ENEMY

At tho conference of Now Zealand Chambers of Commerce yesterday, Mr. J. G. Harkness (Wellington Chamber) moved: That this conference desires to re-affirm the principles contained in tlio resolutions agreed, to at tho Conference of Chambers of Commerco, hold August 5 and G, 1915, and to urgo on tho National Government to make such arrangements at tho earliest possiblo moment as will provide: (a) For. preferential reciprocal trading relations, between all phrts of tho British Empire. , (b) For reciprocal trading between all parts of the British Empire and tho Allied countries. (c) For tho favourable treatment of neutral countries. _ * (d) or restricting by tariffs and otherwiso, trade relations with all enemy countries, so as to render dumping or a return to pre-war conditions impossible. ' The mover said that tho great lesson of the war was that tho world was undergoing a great change, and another lesson was that' it was the duty of tho Government to take their share in certain tliiugs they never touched. The Governments of the future would have to bo more socialistic than wore tho Governments of the past. He did not mean more socialistic in tho broad sense, but that they would need to rcgulato things to tho best end. Every country possessed certain powers and potentialities, and it would be a nation's duty to organise those powers and potentialities. Thero must bo mutual sincerity, and tho distrust of tho past must disappear. While bo had confidence in tho business peoplo, ho thought legislation necessary to save us from tho deceit and duplicity of tlioso who ' to-day woi'o our enemies. In the past Germany had traded with Britain under tho "most favoured nation" clause. . But Germany must bo differentiated against in the future. And by what? By tariff restriction? Favour Our Allios. ■ Wo must givo moro favoured treatment to our Allies; and somo favour to neutrals, who, though not taking' up arms, had yet assisted us. We could not trade with Germany to-morrow as wo had done yesterday. Ho was not with those who said that we should not take this lino of action becauso they held that tlioso who were our enemies to-day might be our friends to-morrow. Why should we thus suggest that countries like Belgium, Russia, and France, knowing how wo had stood for freedom, would bo our foes in the days to florae. It was for England to-day to initiate somo system which would be in tho interests of the Empire, and would secure to us tlio, fruits of victory. It could be said that public opinion was going solidly in favour of preferential trado within tho Empire. It must bo recognised that if the Imperial Government was to act efficiently in tho matter suggested in Clause b. of the resolution, we must give our hearty co-operation. As to tlio neutrals, somo had refused enormous prices from our enemies in order not to injure the nation where their sympathies lay. He did not agreo with those who thought it necessary to resume trado with Germany. When Germany trampled its iniquities underfoot, tlion trade might go on again. Sir. F. E. Jones (Christcliurcli) seconded the motion. Mr. T. 0. Jenkins Rodney suggested that Clause c. should read: "For the favourable treatment of neutral countries as far as may bo conducive to the truest welfare of the Empire." Mr.. Harkness said details could T.-.uuly bo piit into tho resolution. They could affirm the principle, and allovf each country-to consider its own details. ' ■ ■ j Mr. George Fen wick (Dunedin) thought the. details of such resolutions must bo loft to tho Imperial Government.- The question arose: "Should wo ever again trado with Germany? He thought that wo should not again answer "No" to that query, but we must take precautions to safeguard ourselves. Thero was no ono present who doubted that wo would win tho war. If wo w : on, wo would bo in a position to dictate to Germany; and public feeling would prevent our being tho fools wo had been iii the past. Also, public feeling would bo against allowing tlio comparative strength of the British Navy to decrease. Tho case of 0110 of our Allies, Japan, would bo a problem of tho future. Why Cermany can be Dispensed With. Mr. C. M, Luko (Wellington Central) agreed' with Mr. Harkness that the less they went into details in this matter tho hotter. Mr. R. Hall (.Wellington Central) said that if Germany were not allowed to trade with the world she would) bo unable to pay the huge indemnity which would he donianded of her. Mr. J. B. Richards (Stratford) thought details should be left to tlioso wlio ltnow most about them—tlio British manufacturers—and that wo should stick to what concerned us most —production. Wo should increase our productiveness. Mr. Jenkins's suggested amendment was put to tlio meeting and lost. Tlio Trade Commissioner (Mr. It. W. Dalton) being invited to speak, said that it could be reckoned that effcctivo action would he taken in tho near future on all these questions. Now Zealand should know what its attitude was to ho towards enemy trade. Therefore, oven if they couldl not enter into details now, they should bo ready within tlio next few months to place boforo tlio Now Zealand . Government what they thought tho Government should advise the Imperial Government on tho subject. It had been suggested that as Germany had taken £80,000,000 of produce in a year from tho United Kingdom, we could not afford to lose that market. Ho pointed out that Germany liad also been a customer of Russia and Italy. Why then could wo not substitute the German market with Russian and Italian markots, which together would bo nearly as largo as it? Those things were being considered! in England now. It had boon presumed that Germany had competed with England. on a fair basis, but that was not so, and there was no need why trado should! bo resumed on tho same lines. Mr. W. A. Beddoe (Canadian Trade Commissioner) said tho question had been raised as to whether wo could do without German trade. Well, in 1013 New Zealand! had spent £2000 a day mi Gorman goods. Since the war they had "ot no German goods, and they had missed nothing. Was New Zealand the poorer for it. No, it was richer than before tlio war. Mr. Harkness's motion was then carried in its original form.