RECIPROCAL TRADE

Evening Star, Issue 20133, 25 March 1929, Page 13

RECIPROCAL TRADE

“CEMENT OF EMPIRE” A POWERFUL PLEA A strong appeal to the public to buy dominion produce, not for reasons of sentiment, but on trade reciprocity,' was made by Sir James Parr, High Commissioner for New Zealand, on the occasion of a recent visit to Stoke-on-Trent as the guest of the British Pottery Manufacturers’ Federation and the North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce. The visit was organised by Sir Francis L. Joseph, 0.8. E., president of the Chamber of Commerce. Alter an interesting tour of the Doulton Potteries, Sir James was the guest at luncheon of the Pottery Federation and the Chamber of Commerce (reports the ‘ Empire Mail ’). About 100 leading commercial and public men of Stoke and surrounding town* were present. The menu consisted almost entirely of New Zealand produce—Toheroa soup, lamb, apple tart, apple dessert,, and Newt Zealand, cheese and butter. “ This district,” said Sir Francis Joseph, in proposing, the toast of the High Commissioner, “ the acknowledged centre of the great British pottery district, rejoices in this opportunity of welcoming the High Commissioner for the Dominion of New Zealand. The Parliament of New Zealand has this year removed the duty on British pottery. It is one of the most dramatic gestures of goodwill to the workers of the Homs Land that has ever been made,” he declared, amidst applause,. “.Is it any wonder that we gladly avail ourselves of this opportunity of expressing to the High Commissioner our heartfelt thanks for this preference, and we ask him to convey our appreciation to his Government, and through it, to the people of New Zealand. (Applause.) “ But our thanks need nob he confined to words. ‘This young and virile community of New Zealand sends more mn two-thirds of its exports to this country. It is up to the food distributors of this district to see that New Zealand produce finds a place on their counters, and it is up to the people of North Staffordshire to help themselves by buying it. “ For the first nine months of this year,” added the speaker, “ 70,581 cwt of pottery, valued at £200,000, has been sent to New Zealand, and in addition there was a large trade in tiles.” “BUYING BRITISH.” The High Commissioner prefaced his reply with a jocular reference to the luncheon, and said: “ I am sure that as a result of the essential vitamins that are so generously abundant in New Zealand foodstuffs you will be all immensly invigorated for your next week’s work. As for New Zealand butter, the British Ministry of Health has declared that there is no butter so rich in nutritive qualities as, ours. Could you have a better or more independent testimony? ” Taking up Sir Francis Joseph’s reference to New Zealand’s removal of Customs duty on pottery, Sir, James said: “ It may be, as Sir Francis said, a dramatic gesture from New Zealand to you good people—a gesture of warm commercial friendship. If it be so, T hope that other dominions will see fit to exhibit a similar gesture to your harassed workers in this hard-pressed Old Land. “As for New Zealand, our settled policy is to buy British goods whenever we can. We have nothing against the foreigner, but we_ like to give our orders to our own kith and kin whenever we can. Indeed, it has been the settled policy of the New Zealand Government for years past that Government purchases must be of British goods, whenever it is possible to obtain them, and, believe, me, that policy is in accordance with the strong sentiment of our people. Our belief is that the soundest game for us to play is to trade as much within the family as possible. “ And what a family it is—a family of great nations composing the greatest Empire in the world. It has untold resources. Every New Zealander believes that the soundest course is to nourish one another by mutually profitable trading, and we do our best with Customs preferences to foster this principle.” MORE PROFITABLE. Sir James said that about £11,000,000 of British goods entered New Zealand free of duty,'' and about £10,000,000 worth came under the benefit of a 15 or 20 per cent, tariff. “Surely this,” said he, “was a distinct advantage to the Mother Country’s manufacturers, in spite of what economists might say to the contrary.” Stressing the importance to Britain of her Empire trade, Sir James asserted: “ One New Zealander is worth to you commercially as much as fifteen Danes. Yet I find Danish butter in every shop in Stoke-on-Trent. An investigation made yesterday shows that only in one grocer’s shop in twelve is . New Zealand butter sold, while every shop has Danish butter. 1 point this out to you to urge you that it will pay you so much better to eat our New Zealand butter and so provide us with money to buy more china and pottery ware from you. Our cows graze the year round on sunlit ? pastures, giving the highest food values to New Zealand milk and butter, and, with careful Government grading and inspection, we are able to turn out dairy produce of unsurpassed quality and at a price cheaper than the foreign article. And yet one grocer only in twelve sells it here! I make no comment —only ask you to do the fair thing—the fair thing to your kith and kin.”

MORE BUSINESS - The High Commissioner then spoke Of New Zealand—its development and present prosperity and the extent of its trad«. In conclusion, in an eloquent perforation, he recalled the great extent of the British Empire—its wonderful possibilities, .the responsibility of developing the wonderful heritage which, through the courage of our forefathers, had ben handed down to us. The best cement of Empire, tho strongest link to hold us all together, was to get around the table and arrange practical ways arid means to do more business together. Lady Parr, for the first time.since her serious illness, was able to accompany Sir James on an official visit. She was present to hear the speeches, and at their conclusion had the pleasant surprise of being asked by Mr Johnson (the chairman) to accept a very handsome Oauldon tea service as a gift from the Federation and the Chamber Ipf Commerce.