MARK NOT A FACTOR.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 781, 3 November 1922, Page 7

MARK NOT A FACTOR.

TRADE BETWEEN BRITAIN AND GERMANY. “It is a great pity that the Commonwealth did not join forces with us in prohibiting trade with Germany,” said Mr M A. Carr, ex-pre-sident of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, in the course of a chat on Germany and her trade. “In London. I saw’ several shops devoted to the sale of German fancy goods. These were beifng sold at prices which were ridiculously lou r , and must be harmful for fancy goods manufacturers in England. It could have been done very easily, seeing that we are 12,000 miles away from Germany!”

It was suggested that Germany might! retaliate by refusing to buy Mew Zealand wool. “Don't you believe itj’ said Mr Carr. “There are now at least half a dfozen buyers in Australia buying lor Germany, and as many may be found here a little later on What do you think they are here for? It I s only to save the London charges If they can ship their wool direct from Australia to Germany in their own bottoms they save l'd per lb, out if not they would have to buy in London for they have to have wool. There is no Interchange of tracie obligation, in it. Now Germany is sending out her own ships to Australia. She will be able to ship wool direct to Hamburg, and so save many thousands of pounds.” Referring to trade generally with Germany, Air Carr said that latterly the sy stern qjf settlement for goods purchased in Germany had been payment by English banknote, and the fluctuation of the mark- meant notmng. When a man went to buy goods l of any kind in Germany he did not change his money into marks and pay for his purchases in depreciated German money. Hej lmd to put down good! Bank of England notes. _ The Germans knew exactly the position, and: the mark was not notv a factor in trade between German producers and British buvers