OVERSEAS TRADE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 147, 17 March 1920, Page 7

OVERSEAS TRADE

-0BRITISH MANTJFACTUEEIiS' ATTITUDE. By Teleeranh— Prosg Association. Auckland, March IG. Jlr. R. W. Dalton, British Trade Commissioner, returned by the Maheno after a visit to England extending over nearly eighteen months. He said there was greater readiness than previously 011 the part of manufacturers to discuss overseas trade. "In fact,' said Mr. Dalton, "the number of manufacturers in all branches of industry who visited me constituted a. record as compared with previous visits of _ trade commissioners." This greater interest in export tqade Mr. Dalton ascribed partly to the quietening of enterprise, partly to the fact that manufacturing works at Home had so greatly increased; and enlarged • tha.t it became vital that the export trade should be developed to provide an outlet for the immensely increased production bound to take place: A noticeable feature of the internal reorganisation was the amalgamation of existing concerns into large industrial combinations. He felt confident that British manufacturers would be able to recover the trade supremacy they formerlv held. In' respect of numerous complaints from New Zealand that manufacturers were not disposed to enter into definite trade engagements for the Dominion, Air. Dalton said that the exiting conditions rendered the immediate undertakes of definite trade engagements impossible, but in view of' the immense increase in manufacturing plants, firms were easrer to resume flild increase their trade relations with the Dom-nion as soon as At present they were bombarded with demands from Inivpr from Western F.n,rope, also from the Home markets, which they were -unable to'mfot. •' * " With reference to transnort conditions and the disposal of New Zealand commodities! at Home h» wm unable to give anv' information^thoucrh, speaking generally, these were • seriously affected, by the general clisoriranisation due to the war. but would improve ns tho industrial position, became better.