BIG ADVANTAGE TO AUSTRALIA

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 134, 23 June 1937, Page 4

BIG ADVANTAGE TO AUSTRALIA

Uneven Nature of Trade with N.Z. DOMINION HAMPERED That coanpetition from Australian manufacturers was seriously hampering New Zealand trade and called for consideration by the Government was the view expressed at the annual meeting of the Hastings Chamber of Commerce by the president, Mr H. W. C. Baird. ' "A grave menace to the manufaetur* ing concerns in New Zealand is the said Mr Baird. "Because of the 40-hour week and scarcity of experienced hands, our manufacturers cannot deliver goods within a reasonable time and representatives from Australia are securing a big volume of trade in New Zealand. This applies to clothing and goods which were previously purchased in New Zealand, and now they have to be bought outside. "New Zealand manufactures of woollen goods, especially blankets and flannels, have been unsurpassed for quality and price. Can they hold their position against Australian competition 1 Take some of our so-called New Zealand companies and we find they are really branehes of Australian businesses. They employ a eertain amount of labour, but where do the profits go? We are being well bled by Australia at the present time, and what does she buy from us? As a patriotic New Zealander and a British subject I think it will be necessary for our Government to give this matter its serious attention and arrange a reasonable Customs tariff with Britain, our best customer for our primary products."