PROSPECTS IN N.Z.

Southland Times, Issue 20080, 18 January 1927, Page 10

PROSPECTS IN N.Z.

FOR MEN OF SMALL CAPITAL. London, November 30. Sir James Parr was the guest of the Imperial Industries Club at a luncheon .given at the Waldorf Hotel. This Club, founded in 1903, has for its object the promotion of social and business relationships between the representatives of commercial and professional industries. Sir George Hayter Chubb, the president, in welcoming the guest, said they hoped Sir James Parr’s tenure of office would tend to consolidate the trade relations between Great Britain and New Zealand. New Zealanders, said Sir James, were per head of population the best customers in the world for British goods. The imports per head amounted to £lB 10/-. Of New Zealand’s total imports 50 per cent, came from the Mother Country, while of manufactured goods alone the percentage was 59. There was, however, room for improvement. As an example, ho instanced the case of motor cars. Last year £4,500, 000 was spent by New Zealand in the purchase of motor cars from overseas, but 85 per cent, of that went to foreign countries, almost all to America. Including Australia, close on £20,000,000 a year was spent on motor imports, and there was something rotten about the “State of Denmark” when only about 14 per cent, of that amount went to the Homeland. “Here is a market asking for British manufacturers,” declared Sir James, “and it will be your own fault if that market is seized and held by some foreign competitor. I beg of you to satisfy the demand that exists in New Zealand to-day for your goods. We like to do business with the foreigner but infinitely we prefer to do business with the Motherland.”

Remarking on the amount of primary products which New Zealand sends to Britain, Sir James stated that one-quarter of the total imports of wool to this counrty came from New Zealand, while the quantity of meat and lamb was roughly 50 per cent, of the total. New Zealand already exported to this country half the cheese Great Britain imported, and he saw no reason why they should not be a great pork and bacon producing country and rival the figures of Denmark. His Dominion wanted British goods, as they had already shown by placing orders here which could have been executed much more cheaply in foreign countries; and the manufacturers here should strain every nerve to capture the market which New Zealand was offering to the Motherland with outstretched hands.

Speaking of the advantages which his country offered to those who wished to settle oversea, he said that no country within the Empire offered better prospects for the man of small capital. They were already taking thousands of settlers every year, but he desired to see more of the small-moneyed class settling in the South Pacific. No country held out better prospects to the small farmer with from £l,OOO to £2,000 who wished to do better for himself, and his growing children. There was also a splendid opening there for the retired business. profassionaL naval or military man, who did not see much of a future for his family in Old England. New Zealand was an ideal home for the retired man of moderate means, and for the small capitalist. Sir H. Matthews, secretary of the Central Chamber of Agriculture, proposing the toast of “Imperial Industries,” said that New Zealand had long recognised the importance of afforestation, owing to the world shortage of soft woods. He recommended the automobile manufacturers of this country to send to New Zealand motor cars which were suitable for the roads of that country.

Mr R. M. Bewick, a member of the council of the club, replied to the toast. On the motion of the president, Sir James Parr was elected an honorary member of .the club.