WAR AND THE WORLD'S TRADE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1918, 21 December 1918, Page 4

WAR AND THE WORLD'S TRADE.

(Auckland Herald.) The shadow of war is likely to hang over the world's trade for some considerable time. It will, no doubt, be the general wish that wartime res trie lions should be removed as speedily as possible, but while

looking forward to the return of healthy competition in all branches of trade we must realise that there arc severe limits set by the ■condition in-which the world has been left by four years of devastating war. An'indication of Britain's appreciation of those limits is emit aim’d in ilie announcement by Dr. Addison, Minister of Reconstruction, that it ; -s impossible to a banded the system of export permits. As Dr. Addison pointed out, Britain is still under an obligation, to assist her allies. There can be no free sale of the materials which Belgium and France require to re-establish their industries until the pressing needs of these countries have been met. There can be no open market for the staple foods until our kindred in Britain are assured of an ample supply, and until the last ration ticket has been issued and cancelled. In 1 lie ease of many articles in ordinary use some time will elapse before the supply can be expected to meet the demand; even with the increased tonnage now available the difficulty of moving merchandise from one part of (he world to another will not he overcome in a day. A recent transaction with regard to New Zealand hulter and cheese is a fair example of (he British outlook for the future. A contract has been (dosed with the Fond Controller, under which New Zea land’s- export a hie surplus of butler and cheese is sold to the British Government for twenty months ahead. If our sales are lo bo thus conducted through "Government channels it is not to he expected that onr purchases can he, wholly free from Government regulation. ■AT* are fortunate in being a part of a great Empire which has control of. vast sappfies of all necessaries, and we may feel certain that in ilie allocation of available slocks onr needs will have the fullest consideration. We owe much lo our aides, but we owe it to ourselves that we should not he asked lo compete with our enemies in ;i hare market, for the materials necessary for our social well-being and for the agricultural and industrial development of our eountrv.