BRITAIN GAN EXPORT

Evening Star, Issue 23695, 1 October 1940, Page 4

BRITAIN GAN EXPORT

SEEKING ORDERS ABROAD RAW MATERIALS AVAILABLE That Britain, in spite of her prodigious war effort, is still able to maintain and requires a large export trade, is made clear in a circular 'which the secretary of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce has just received from a large London firm of merchants and shipping agents. It was clear, the circular states, that many people were withholding orders under the impression that it was useless to send them to Britain, and it was hoped the chamber would use its influence to remove that false impression before it developed further. The circular draws attention to an article in the London 1 Daily Telegraph ’ of July 23. “ After a review of stocks of essential raw materials now in the country and recent experience of the rate at which imports are coming in, Cabinet has decided that the position is now so much improved that export trades can now be allowed a fuller allocation,” states the article. “ When the munitions drive was intensified earlier in the year it was necessary to cut the amount of raw materials for the export trades. These cuts are now to be fully restored. It is_ considered that this can be done without in any way reducing or holding up the expanding programme of munitions production. “To push still further our export trade, which is essential to finance the war, the Board of Trade will shortly extend the scheme of rationing supplies of goods for the homo market. Recent steps in this direction have worked so smoothly that the inclusion of goods hitherto left out, and a further reduction in the quota of articles already rationed, are being considered. Since the method of limiting supplies to the retailer has proved so satisfactory, it is not intended to ration individual purchasers. “ Steps are also being taken to make workers in' factories engaged on export orders realise that they are as much war workers as those in munitions. New posters have been designed for display in workshops. In June, which was a difficult month for overseas trade, Britain maintained at the high level of tho previous three months her exports to the United States and South America, as well as to most of the dominions. This result was achieved in America in the teeth of a violent Nazi propaganda campaign which sought to convince traders that we are so engrossed with arms work that it would be impossible for us to meet many export orders.” The circular concludes: “ Britain’s export position to-day is better than it has been for some months past. There will bo a shortage in a few lines, but definite surpluses in others. We urge you to order everything you possibly can from the Old Country, giving ns latitude to supply alternatives if possible.”