BRITAIN’S EXPORTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 156, 1 June 1940, Page 8

BRITAIN’S EXPORTS.

■ ENCOURAGING INCREASES. LOSSES THROUGH INVASIONS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBI, May 30. The President of the Board of Trade (Sir Andrew Duncan) told the House of Commons that the figures for the British export trade were very encouraging, keeping in mind the extent of tlie heavy industries engaged on war work. The cotton goods in April had reached the highest figure since 1937. Woollen goods and other textiles, pottery, and glass had reached the hignest tor ten years. The figures for cutlery, hardware, chemicals and rugs were the highest tor twenty years. Sir Andrew added that he was not overlooking the gap between exports and imports. This was still very big indeed, but he Was entitled to say that, regarding the March-April exports, at least a beginning had been made to a very creditable performance.'The invasion by. Germany of Norway and Denmark with the result of rendering the Baltic largely inaccessible to our trade had resulted in the loss of markets amounting to 10 per cent, of the normal-export market. With the invasion of Holland and Belgium Britain had lost a further five per cent, of her normal export market. This would to some extent be made up by our ability to trade in markets from which those countries were now excluded, but such a switchover must take time. Although at present Britain must l>e prepared to turn over a great deal of effort formerly engaged on the export trade to munitions production, Sir Andrew emphasised the need for concentrating on the export trade where it can still be prosecuted without endangering the war effort,, and he stressed the need for intensified coal production for export.