The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 1931. TRADE AND THE EMPIRE.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 June 1931, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 1931. TRADE AND THE EMPIRE.

Onck more, as is remarked by the Auckland Star, His Excellency the Governor-General has laid the people of the Dominion under an obligation to him, by the excellent address that he delivered to the representatives of the British Manufacturers’ Association ax Auckland. Lord Bledisloe’s speeches have already produced a deep impression it poll public opinion i ii this country by their unusual combination of accurate theoretical khowfedge, pmc- I tical experience Of affairs and (sound common sense, and fli» Excellency’s olforl, fully maintained the high rep. utation that he has thus secured. To the British manufacturers and their agents Lord Bledisloe offered a large amount of valuable advice dealing chiefly with the practical side of our import trade. If the representatives of the British Manfacturers’ Association in this country can impress upon their principals at Home the need for adapting their products to the requirements of the colonial markets, avoiding anything that savours of conservatism, and maintaining under all possible circumstances the high tradtions of British commercial morality, they will have done a great deal to ensure the expansion and the- sueoess of Britain’s trade with the Dominion. But interesting a s all Lord Bledisloe’s suggestions are, an even more valuable portion of his address concerned the distribution of our Imperial trade between different portions of the Empire and foreign countries. Though addressing an audience comprised largely of men whose business it is to import goods into New Zealand, His Excellency did not hesitate to advise the general public to support local industries within feasible and rational limits. He urges all our citizens “to make up their minds doggedly and patriotically to purchase for their current needs goods made in New Zealand, so far as these are available and suitable,” Failing these, Lord Bledisloe argues, we should purchase good s made in Britain “or in default of these goods produced in other parts of the British Empire.” If all our people carefully and conscientiously held to this order of preference in making their purchases, there can be little doubt that, in His Excellency’s words, “they would enormously enhance their own and their country s prosperity,” and they would at the same time be applying a most effective remedy to the malady of depression and unemployment from which the Dominion', i, at present suffering. It i s se’dom indeed that the case for the encouragement of local industries and the promotion of inter-imperial trade has been stated so eomorehensiiV.lv and effectively here, and His Excellency deserves the public thanks of New Zealand for his. advice. Following the timely address by the Governor General. displays are taking place in the metropolitan centres in reference to New Zealand manufactured articles, and much useful publicity is resulting. A< showing the iir"ortnnro of' helping the local industries, and thereby assisting employment, in the Dominion. the ThiemMoymeut Board is helming financially those displays. Tt would be wise lor all ventres in New Zealand to take up tins form of advertisement,hand bv special displays and other means draw atten-tion-to the large and varied forms of products the country is turning out. In many place, where perhaps not

much thought is given to the subject, many folk do not realise the scojij. of the New Zealand manufacturers ./gelations. nor is the quality cl’ the goods produced realised. Education along those line, would lie i s-Nuil hi arrt. ting attention and bell ing to direct trade for the New Zealand produced articles in preference- to the imported, whether British or foreign. Some real help to reduce unemployment can be done by tlv means suggested, and all centres should cooperate in greatei publicity of New Zealand made goods.