TRADE IN THE EMPIRE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 16 July 1929, Page 9

TRADE IN THE EMPIRE

The importance of the Dominions in Britain's overseas trade was emphasised by Sir James Parr in his presidential address at the annual meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in London, lie said he had written during the year to several newspapers when attacks had been made upon the Dominions. In one they were charged with framing tariff preferences which were described as pretences and humbugs. They knew, however, that far fiom being pretences and humbugs they were giving the British manufacturers real help. Remarking that there was no doubt- that the Overseas Empire\was the best British customer. Sir James Parr said that Inst year it absorbed 46 per cent, of the total exports—namely, 327 millions out of a total of 723 millions. New Zealand purchased British goods in 1928 worth £21.000,000. Denmark purchased goods worth £9,700,000. though Denmark had double the population of New Zealand. Australia and New Zealand, with 8,000,000 inhabitants, were Great Britain's best customers next to India.. Thev bought more goods than all South America, with 70.000,000 people, including Argentina. Thev bought- gi.°ods valued 'at 'C75.000.000'. as against £51.000.000 purchase! by the United States, with" 120.000.000 'of population. Thev bought more than Germany, Poland. Austria. Hungary, Switzerland, and C/.echn-Slovakia put together, with a popuiitio-i cf 120.000,000. Canada, with 9.000.000. bought nearly as much as (he United States.