PREFERENTIAL TRADE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 51, 22 June 1914, Page 4

PREFERENTIAL TRADE.

Mr David Buddo, Kaiapni’s M.P., who is on a visit to the Old Country, recently gave an address in London,, in the course of which he is reported to have made a strong plea for reciprocity in matters of trade between Motherland and Dominion, and, referring to the establishment in New Zealand of preferential trade .with the United Kingdom, said that, at the time this policy was adopted by the Dominion, ten years ago, there was f'a very pronounced opinion in certain quarters that it would be ineffective, the opinion being held that trade would follow its usual channels irrespective of preference. On the other hand, the advocates of the policy maintained that it was wise statesmanship to so legislate that the manufactured and semi-manufactured materials which New Zealand required should be imported from the Mother Country rather than from foreign countries. There was not the slightest doubt that die policy had been successful. During the past ton years the imports of dutiable articles from the United States into New Zealand had increased by only £30,000, and from Germany by £166.000, while the same class ot imports from the United Kingdom had increased by nearly £5,000,000. Not only was the actual increase greater in British than foreign goods, but,the proportionate increase was greater is far as imports of British manufactures were concerned. The people of New Zealand found in the United Kingdom their best customer for the produce of the Dominion, and they recognised that the Mother Country had a right to expect that New Zealand would be an equally good customer for British manufactures. In fact, what the people of the Dominion were really striving for was reciprocity with the United Kingdom.