DIRECT TRADE WITH GERMANY

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 49, 19 June 1914, Page 4

DIRECT TRADE WITH GERMANY

Discussing the proposed German direct trade with New Zealand a special phase of the question was opened up by'a Christclmrch manufacturer who would probably be affected by direct competition from Germany. He spoke of the probable request that might be made for a reciprocal agreement consequent on the opening of German markets to New Zealand produce. "The probable effect of this movement," he told an interviewer referring to the shipping line, "coming concurrently with the opening of American and German ports to our principal lines of primary produce, will certainly give to the New Zealand producer a higher price than he received when England was the only market. But it is not a question of reciprocity. England never bought anything from the colonies at a higher price than she could procure it from any other part of the world. She has not shown a disposition even to give a preference. It. is not many years ago that the price England was prepared to pay for certain classes of wool would not pay the cost of shipping and other expenses where the wool was grown any distance from the coast-line. Hundreds of bales of wool were destroyed in the paddocks as being practically no value. This is just mentioned to show, that England never buys anything she wants it. The opening of German and American ports teaches practically the same lesson. They have not sufficient of their own and require more, and therefore the competition of-these three countries, each wanting the same article, must be of advantage to the primary producer."