BRITAIN’S NEED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26633, 2 December 1947, Page 4

BRITAIN’S NEED

SUPPORT BY TRADING ALLIES MANUFACTURERS’ CONTRIBUTION “ I am convinced that Britain will pull through, but to do so she must have the support of her Allies. , By the word allies I mean the dominions and the countries with which she has close trading ties. We in New Zealand must give our support in a more practical and unselfish way than we did during the war.” These statements were made by Mr D. I. Macdonald, secretary of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation! in an address to members of the Otago-South-land Manufacturers' Association last night. Mr Macdonald recently returned from the International Trade Organisation Conference in Geneva, which he attended in an advisory capacity to the New Zealand Government delegation, and while he was overseas he visited England and other European countries. During his address, which was entitled, “ New Zealand Industry and the New Battle for Britain,” he referred to the close link which New Zealand had with' Great Britain from a trading point of view, and described the condition in which English industry was with possible effects on New Zealand manufacturing. In the export drive now being made by Britain there was integrated a drive for as large sales as possible to hard currency areas. It was possible, in his opinion, that all the exports the target called for would not be wanted by the hard currency countries and that would have advantageous repercussions to New Zealand. This Dominion was high on the list, next to hard currency nations, to where British exports would be directed and, speaking generally, the non-acceptance of all British exports by hard currency areas would mean an improvement in supplies of raw materials and semiprocessed materials to manufacturers here.

The shortage of dollars, the speaker continued, would restrict the importation of goods into New Zealand from Ihe United States of America and Canada to the very bare essentials such as capital equipment for the maintenance of industry and health supplies.

“ Your contribution towards assisting Great Britain can be a major one,” said Mr Macdonald. The manufacturers could helii by influencing public opinion in the right direction, by trying to ensure greater harmony in industry, and by ' closer co-operation with primary producers. “Never before will you have a greater obligation to the people of New Zealand than in the period Over the next year or two. You should insist on the greatest possible efficiency in your businesses ana maintain the high quality of your products.”