BRITISH GOODS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3093, 25 May 1917, Page 4

BRITISH GOODS

I'he formation of a, "New Zealand Association- of Manufacturers and Agents is of general interest. The step taken by agents of' British manufacturers in the Wellington district is in line with the great lnter-Jimpiro trade movement that is one of the hopeful outcomes of the war nimilar associations are already at work in Australia and boutn Africa, and they have proved their usefulness to the manufacturers, to the agents, and to the- community-. They assist British manufacturers to build up the selling organisations that are going to be an essential condition of success in tho post-war struggle for trade, and at the same time they promote tho patriotic sentiment that wo all wish to Hete fostered in thev domain of commerce- and exchange. British exporters of manufactured goods aro in competition with' one. another to some extent, it. is true, and their agents in Now Zealand and elsewhere cannot work hand in band. Bub they have a common purpose of meeting and defeating_the foreigner in Imperial trade channels, and in that sphere lies the work of the now association. The local agents of the British manufacturers will be enabled to act conceitedly when desirable through their organisation, and they will speak to some extent for the manufacturers themselves, whose views ought to be heard in this country when such matters' as tariff revision, taxation of profits of overseas firms, rules for tho marking of imported goods, and terms of contract are under consideration. Primarily the business of the association will bo to protect the_ interests of its members. But in doing that effectively it may very often be serving a- truly Imperial purpose.