TRADE COMMISSIONER

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 286, 22 August 1918, Page 6

TRADE COMMISSIONER

FAREWELL LUNCHEON

ENTHUSIASM FOR BRITISH j -•'■;•,- TKADJi ■ * . MR. DALTON'S GOOD WORK

Business meu of Wellington had an .(opportunity yesterday to taku leave for 'a space of His Majesty's Tirade Commissioner in New Zealaud, who is going Home to consult with thu Board ofTrado authorities about his work in this country. The visit is in accordance with a new practice, and policy of the Board of Trade; by''which. Commissioners in different pfirts of the Empire are to mako periodical-Visits' to tho Homo Country. ,'fho occasion was a luncheon tendered to Mr. Dalton by tho Association of British Manufacturers aud Agents. The president oi tho association, Mr. James Macintosh, was in the chair. .

Tho chairman, after a brief reference r :to the reason for the function, Baid that. , Jio proposed to make some remarks about the reason for the formation of the association. They had been very much indebted to Mr. 'Dalton for his advice and help in the formation of tho association. It had, come into existence somo twelve pr fourteen mouths ago, and since then it.had grown until it had a membership of 131 members, of whonl 50 were -principal firms and 8i were agents. Branches had been formed in other centres of New i 'Zealand. There were now branches at Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin, ■land presently there would be a meeting 'of representatives of all the branches, at which meetiiig it was hoped that all tho j-brarichos woidd be federated, so that ■ there would bo one body for the whole (Dominion. Mr. Dalton was hero in tho (interests of British trade, so that it ,I>encd that, tho work o£ the association ('and Mr. Dalton's work were so closely jellied'as to havo idoutical objects. Whatever tho trade with other countries might «e after the war, tho. business of tho and tho business of the Trade fCommissioner would bo to seo that Briftish trade canio. first. (Applause.) In ■ saying this he did not wish to bo misunderstood, but it had practically been 'decided by tho authorities that aftor the ;.war there should he freo and unrestrict:'ed trado within the Empire," and also Anat some special steps Mould be taken 'Jo foster tradejvith our-Allies. Mr. Dalton had been in New Zealand two years ;»nd a half, and ho was sure that tho •knowledge that Mr. Dalton had gained iiere about our trade would he much appreciated'in the Motherland. When the jjvar was over, it might bo that the British manufacturer would bo rushed With prdors for his goods by people nearer at land than New Zealand, and that the ■customers in this far distant part of the Empire would be overlooked. It was (hoped that Mr. Dalton, when he was at Home, would be able to deal with this matter with the British manufacturers, and to ensure that the Dominions' trade £vould have first consideration from tho '.manufacturers. "

On Wioh Standards. . '.Although they were itaet to say goodie. to ; Mr. Dalton, tboy all hoped that at woud.be only for a little whil fi . (Applause.) He was expressing the opinion ■m H7 a V u the room wllen h ° said fchor as his stay had been, it had been , long, enough for. them all to ■ Me Carrr out the d « ties of Ki3 • &,? ot °? iy '105I 05 ho fitted f °r the impossessed m generous measure that fellm-* power ailed enthusiasm, without which Jo -grat, tilings were ever done. To all these good qualities he added a live imagination and a high sense of honour a combination before wtiich all oKles disappeared. The combination made sic' «* and victory come easily. Mr. Dnlton knew him well enough to be sure that 1 S"S " 0t W?B iIU this out of a dSSe ■Mr ™ I<ather ,lis idea H '<* to make ? n n „ t T r °< 0t , wllnt kind of """ they_ all took him to be, and the' .quality 2 hfeh TVT c± f ected of h ™ And the representative of British trade for throughout tho whole world of commer I e» TnH a w gh ? 1 ' Stan , dard than tt»t -ct the Britishi.trailer and manufacturer /Applause.) Seeing that they were an • association of British manufacturers, thTs might sound something liko self praise, ■ geapt.it to be a'reminder to them all fit what was expected.of them, so that .they might not fall short of the high love J""™* and might even strive lo raise *nat level higher still. - Ho assured Mr. Dalton that ho carried t?L hl & *™* no] ]'« ihe good wishes ; of the commercial community of £? A and he tl ?°, ueht he »IBW ata> Bay ot the commercial community of the iwholo 0 f New Zealand. He wished Mr! Walton a safe voyage Home and a safe Joturn to this country. ' The Empire First,. spoke, m support of tho toast of *Ir. Dalton's health. As a commercial Jian/and-,as Minister he had knowledge ot the work of the two predecessors of ■ m .Dalton in the office of Trade Comtaissioner both gentlemen who had done ijery good work.- But if he might venture to say so, the fact .that the Board ,0 Irade had sent out to thjs country B.man liko Mr. Dalton was clear evidence Mmt, tho authorities had wakened up to Itlie importance of the position of Trade Commissioner, Ho would like to say, as .■Minister of Customs, how much his Ec apartment had been indebted to Mr. Dalton from time to time for information the had been able to give with regard to 'breaches of the patents and trade marks ,Jaws in ihe importations from foreign countries., Mr. .Dalton had also done Jroluable work m bringing before tho manufacturers of Great Britain tho ■names of reputable firms in Now Zealand In other ways Mr. Dalton had done much 8oo(l in making it possible, for New Zealand firms to deal with manufacturers in the Old Country. The custom in New (Zealand had been to encourage productionfroni the lnnd, and to encourage oui own industries, and to deal with tho Empire for our requirements. It • was satisfactory lo know thai in the trado iigurcs for this country'■ it was shown that 92 per cent, of the exports from this country went to the Empire, and that (8 per cent, of our imports caino from the Empire. These figures showed conclusively what was tho sentiment of '.New Zealand in the matter of trade. They believed in trading with peoplo of their own kith and kin,.mid they believed that British trade should be encouraged for British people, thnt the merchandise should be carried in British bottoms, mid that trado within the Empire should be fostered to every possible extent. (Applause.) Organisation Necessary. The war had shown us not only our strength, but also our'..weaknesses, and ihe thought ho could say without fear of contradiction that we saw the necessity of appointing trade representatives in all parts of the Empire, and also in tho 'Countries of our .Allies. This question,' and the question also of the wisdom of appointing a representative in the United States, was under the consideration of the' Government at present, and he 'hoped that when tho policy of the Government ■was disclosed in due tiino' they would find that arrangements had been made to enable us to keep in touch commercially with the hundred millions of peup.e of the United States, the people who spoke our own language, and who were bow our gallant Allies. He was quite sure that we should bo nblo to' trado [wjth them much more than we did at (present.

It stood to reason that just as they ihad organised for the war, they should organise for peace after the war, and he believed that the Mother Country was in earnest in the desire to organise commerce for the good of all. AVe must r.ot go back to the old policy of trading with the enemy or, with those countries who might, one day desire to question our existence. Wo did not wish to trade with them to give them money to enable them to build up huge navies and armies, but to deal first of all and ns much ns possible with our own people irilhin the Empire; nnd next with our 'Allies. Jfr. Bonnr Law recently stated 'that the British Government had not fcliangcd its opinions on these matters .since the entry of America into the war.

\ Frnnco and Britain had recently denounced overy commercial treaty affording moat favoured nation trtatnient to nations not at present our Allies. It jvas satisfactory to .know that tlio views held by almost all the people of this country were the views of tho rulers of tho Mother Country at present. They all recognised the necessity of doing- something to enable the British manufacturer to re-establish his lost trade connection, and for a period after the war tho British manufacturer would have to be helped in order that ho might at least reestablish himself in the position ho-held prior to the war. (Applause.) Mr. Myers concluded by offering good wishes to Mr. Dalton for a safe voyage Home and a safe return to New Zealand. ' The company drank Mr. Dalton's health. Mr. Dalton's Reply. Air. Dalton, when he rose to reply, acknowledged first of all his indebtedness to his predecessor, Mr. Wickhnm, who had done much more good work than the general public were aware of. -'Mr. Dalton said that he was very grateful for tho kind references that had been made to himself. Even although ho knew that he could never hope to attain to all that had been said, about him, he felt their ! good will a distinct encouragement. There were times in a position like that held by him when encouragement was very badly needed. Even although a man ■ might believe in his work and do it with enthusiasm not only bocausa it was his job, but because he believed it iwas good work, a little encouragement helped him along wonderfully. He had no complaints to make about his treatment in Now Zealand—quito the contrary. Business men and the Press of New' Zealand had dealt as'generously with him as they could have done. In particular be would like to thank the Press of New Zealand for all that they had dono to help him in his work. In every town in New Zealand that he had visited the Press had, prepared tho way for him witlt strong' articles exhorting the coninieroi'al men to deal first with British people. His best friends in New Zealand were -members of the Press, nnd he would look back always with the greatest possible pleasure to tho reception that had been given him by tho Press and tho business men of New Zealand. He hoped that when he canio back they would" not have entirely forgotten him. While he was absent his office would bo kept open as usmil by his secretary, and he would be kept in close . touch with tho work hero all the time that he would be in England. If business, men -would go to his ofllco as they had boon in the habit of doing in tho past their business would be sent on to him, and the matter of request would have his attention in England. The only difference would be that the delay might be greater. Also, Mr. Maegregor, Commissioner in Australia, would exercise a general supervision over the work in New Zealand, and ho would como to New Zealand for one, if not two, periods' of a month while ho (Mr. Dalton) was away. He hoped that commercial men would call on Mr. Macgregor .when ho came, even if they had no special business on which to see him. British Trade will Come into its Own Again. ' He hoped that he would leave behind ' liini somo of his real enthusiasm tor British' trado. Ho would hate to feel that there would be a period of nine months during which British trade would not bo supported. He knew that this Vjould be impossible because thero was just as much enthusiasm for British trado.in this"country as there was in England. It had been a most gratifying thing to him to find here the enthusiasm ui' all classes for British trade. The war, was going on aftor four years, and the position was becoming worse and worse. Last year's trade figures showed a very ' disagreeable situation, and the British would have to hold as hard as they could to keep their trado connection in New Zealand. He hoped that none of tho members of the association holding agency ! connections would relinquish them. He felt sure that the harvest would como ' later, and that these agencies would again be remunerative. His message to the people at Home would bo that the agents ; and the general public were supporting \ the British manufacturer, and he would * maintain as strongly as ho could that the manufacturer in Britain should bo loyal ' to his agents in New Zealand. Mr. Macintosh had expressed a fear that prefer- • ence might be given by the manufacturer to countries near at hand. He (Mr, ■ Dalton) believed that matters would be ' arranged to prevent anything of the'sort ' happening, and it would be part of his task to see that New Zealand was not J forgotten. .(

Ho was very glad the association had grown so> quickly. He hoped J hat later it would be used as. the. medium for the circulation of the -views of tho Home manufacturers on New Zealand trade. If thero were no pressing questions now, n-.embers of, the association should not suppose that the association was of no importance. After tho war thero would be plenty of questions for Iho association to deal with. Ho thanked tho commercial men for tho help they had given him in the past two years, End for the very kind expressions that had been used concerning himself. (Applause.)