BRITISH INDUSTRY

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1931, Page 6

BRITISH INDUSTRY

SIGNS OF REVIVAL. EQUIPMENT OF FACTORIES MODERNISED. AUCKLAND, April 23. “A question uppermsot in tlie minds oi' most- people to-day is that of when trading conditions are going to imprme. in answer, 1 can say that as Jar as En gla id is concerned there aro deJinito signs ol a trade revival, and within the next lew months, while no trade boom will be possible, better times will be very evident,” said 31 r E. \V. Cave, manufacturers’ representative. of Auckland, who has returned from a twelve months’ tour abroad. “Unfortunately, England to-day seems to be suffering through an overdose of political parties, all playing Imposition as on a chess board. While this state of affairs exists industry is receiving little or no assistance; while taxation remains higher than ever.” In visits to more than torty British factories, Mr Cave found that no opportunity had been lost in the slump period to discard old methods of production for new. Most factories had installed much new machinery and had reorganised generally. A few concerns, he though, might well overhaul their sales executives, and not expect profits to he produced solely by the reduction of costs and the speeding up of production. Generally speaking, he found a very earnest desire on the part of British manufacturers in the motor and engineering trades to meet world prices and conditions. That tendency was more in evidence to-day than during a tour of similar factories lie had undertaken two years ago. The Tariff Question. “The tariff question is one which is daily debated among manufacturers,” continued Mr Cave, “and it is certain that few free-traders are left to-day. Most industrial leaders agree that at least a revenue-earning tariff should lie enforced ; but one cannot say that the Labour Government in England has been very easily led to that conclusion, it does appear highly possible, however, that such a tariff will be imposed very shortly. A 10 per cent duty on the £300,000.000 worth of manufactured goods imported into England la-t year would yield something towards tlie increasing burden of over £2.000.000 per week expended on the dole.” in Canada, while conditions were not good, tlie trade slump did not appear so evident and marked as it did in the United States. In the latter country. however. it Was generailv agreed that prices had reached their j lowest and that a slow, hut gradual, improvement to better conditions was actually taking place.