PREFERENCE FOR BRITAIN.

Shannon News, 10 September 1926, Page 4

PREFERENCE FOR BRITAIN.

Last week the Auckland Electric Power Board placed contracts for its cable requirements, amount to £125,000 with British manufacturers in face of substantially lower tenders from Germany. The preference accorded to British industry amounted to several thousands sterling, and it is worth noting that the decision of the baard evoked a chorus of approval throughout New Zealand. In England, where naturally the news was delightedly received, many of the leading British daily newspapers paid grateful and glowing tributes to the policy of New Zealand, and the "Daily Mail," in a leading article, declared that the only proper reply to this 'stirring example of patriotism" the British people can give is to buy New Zealand products whenever possible. There was a time when Great Britain accepted without remark / the preferences granted by the Dominions to her manufactures, and made light of the sacrifice involved. British statesmen and publicists no doubt felt that Britain need not acknowledge such favours, in view of the immense benefits she was bestowing on the Dominions in defending their territories from foreign aggression, • and in supplying them with all the loan monies they required for the purpose of their national development. Her apparent insensibility often offended local sentiment in the Dominions, and it undoubtedly operated to retard the natural expansion of the policy of imperial Preference, for the British attitude was easier to resent than to understand. Britain's aforetime habit of ignoring the preferences given her by the Dominions has long since been abandoned. It is her custom now to acknowledge any tariff favours granted her by other members of the Imperial family with as fine a generosity as that which inspired the gift. And most "of her leading daily newspapers constantly ana energetically advocate a comprehensive policy of Imperial tariff reciprocity.

The Auckland Power Board's action in placing its contracts in England instead of in Germany will be warmly approved throughout the Commonwealth. The people of Australia have divided opinions on many subjects, but they arc practically of one mind in believing it to be the duty of the nation when purchasing overseas to see to it that none but British firms will get the orders, even though similar goods could be procured from foreign countries at lower prices. The policy •of British preference is beyond question mo"e popular in Australia than the policy of National protection, for it has the support not only of protectionists but of freetraders. This fact indicates the reason why the placing of contracts in foreign lands by Australian Government Departments or municipal bodies always excites a wave of national indignation. There is probably nothing that brings more shame to the heart of the average Australian than the sight of foreign equipment and furniture in the public offices of the Commonwealth and State Governments. , A leading Melbourne merchant, returning recently from a visit paid to a Cabinet Minister's office, remarked to a pressman that lie had been "sickened" by hearing the clicking of American typewriters there at work. "Better British typewriters are --available," he declared, with perfect truth, "and it is a disgrace to Australia that our Governments should bo using foreign machines!" Australia might be rn—acked in vain to find one