Empire Trade

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 66, 14 October 1916, Page 5

Empire Trade

i CO?«!YSBSSONER'S VISIT. i . TALKS TO BUSINESSMEN. I There was an interested gathering of representative businessmen at the Municipal Chambers last night, when Mr R. Dal ton, His Majesty's Trade Commissioner, gave an address. Among those present were Messrs .1. 15. Richards (President of the Chamber of Commerce, who ably piesided over the meeting), J. W. Boon (Mayor), A. W. Budge, R, Masters, S. H. James, F. G. Hartlev, R. Riera, P. R. Stewart, W. McDonald, R. H. White, \V. A. Hewitt, A. M. Spilman, C. D. Sole, 0. Walters, H. Ashton. D. J. Malone, W. H. H. Young, W. J. Crawshaw, P. Thomson, and others. WELCOMED BY THE CHAIRMAN. In welcoming the speaker the President said he understood Mr Dalton was departing from the habit ,of his predecessor in that he had decided and was now carrying out a tour of the country. The President , expressed the pleasure ; t gave the ! Chamber of Commerce and also | the people generally to have IMr Dalton with them. He hoped | that Mr Dalton had had considerable I evidence of the patriotism that ex- : isted in this country, but it naturaljlv followed that while they were will- ! ing to do all the business they could with the Old Country, there were ; times when it was exceedingly difficult to follow out their own wishes .in that 'respect. To foster trade with the Old Country, preferential I tariffs had been imposed on the Home j manufacturer, and he would like to i point out that this preferential tariff 'had been largely neutralised by the freight that had been charged by the British shipper in shipping goods here. These freights had been very much in favour of the foreigner, and, consequently, the tariff that had been established to give an •advantage to ,the British manufacturer had been 'neutralised by this preferential tariff. | Despite difficulties in dealing with the British manufacturer, he was of tho opinion that their wares were the jbest. Certain articles such as axes, 'glassware, and other goods could not be obtained as desired from the British manufacturer, and Mr Dalton j might explain the position. ReferJring to the progress which the coun- | try had made in 30 years, when it I was all bush, and to the production 'of butter, cheese, meat,,wool, and hides, Mr Richards said the question of dealing with manufactures had tlittle "to do with them as their busi'ness was to produce.

I THE COMMISSIONER'S ADDRESS

! In a homely talk rather than in the J role of a lecturer, Mr Dalton explained that he was representing the British Board of Trade, and as such was making a three years' sojourn in the Dominion. His particular province, as representing the commercial department of the Board of Trade, was to bring the manufacturer at Home iin touch with the businessmen of the two countries and to facilitate trade, aiud'in all ways to assist the British • manufacturer to export his goods. ,TJp to 1908, no Trade Commissioner 'was appointed by the Board of Trade, but that year four appointments wa re made. It was his duty to obItain information regarding the British manufacturers, the articles they i produce, and the best source of supply ■ then, during his three years stay, it was his duty to collect information, note the Dominion's positicm and progress, and in the fourth year travel the United Kingdom and •explain what he has seen out here. !He bad an office in Wellington, where any information relating to trade I could be obtained. It was at their [service in. every way. I The British Manufacturer. I Dealing with conditions in England |as affected by the war, Mr Dalton I said very plainly that we were carrying on a very great war winch could no! he done without the loyal .assistance of the Britisli manufacturer. The War Office and the Admiralty kvere bigger buyers of manufactured Soods than any one else. Everyone 'was engaged in munitions, which occupation did not mean only the making of shells and guns, for there j was no industry which did not mean ! munitions. Everyone was at work, ! and 75 per cent, of the people were devoting the whole of their time to the execution of orders fo? governmental purposes.

Industry and the Wai } Referring to goods affected by, and Which appeared far removed from, war—for example the toy trade, the Commissioner said that those former'lT engaged in that particular trade were now probably making shellcaps —similar remarks applied to silver goods, hosiery, furniture, glass. It must be remembered that the manufacturer at Home was perfectly aware I that be was losing a good deal oi general trade. He was. however, xVmly determined that, lose his general trade or not, he was for the first, l»:tf, and all time going to see tlio war. through. (Applause.) Profits and Loyalty. s to the manufacturer's profits, Mr DaJton said that what he was making out of the Government was nothing like the profit he could make

if he sold his articles fo- general trade. Speaking in high praise cf the loyalty of the British manufacturer, the Commissioner said the Government Department at Homo could not stop the manufacturer if he did not choose to be loyal. Determined to Win. Mi- Dalton alluded to his practical experience in having been in all tho workshops and seen how well these manufacturers were working. Whatever the manufacturer could supply to the War Office he was doing so of his own free will. Ho was determined to do whatever he could to win the war. (Applause». For no other reason was he supplying the needs of the Government. The Trade War.

There had been a good deal ctf talk about capturing German trade, but there was just as great an intention on the part of some countries to capture British trade. While having no wish to dictate, the Commissioner said he was firmly convinced that if the Dominion understood the real position at Home she would support the British manufacturer during the 'present crisis in two ways— (1) By holding up business where it was 'not necessary to purchase until tho British manufacturer had a chance to compete; and (2) By agents being loyal to the British manufacturer and 'not turning them down in favour of foreign agencies. Apart from the 'question of loyalty to principle, the British firm had stood by them in the I past. Those at Home were in a position to compete in a stronger way 'after the war than in the past, and could sell at as good prices as any cf their competitors. (Applause.) The volume of war orders had brought about a revolution in business methods and commerce—they would not recognise certain works to-day eom'pared to seven years ago. Britain was spending five millions a day on the war. but a good deal was gomg back into the manufacturers' hands in the form of machinery' of an automatic type. After the war, the manufacturers would have to go alter new business, and especially export business, and this meant that the export markets of the world were going to be attacked with new forces by the British manufacturer. In addition'to that, the mind of the manufacturer had exceedingly changed. The Manufacturer's Battle.

Speaking of our efficient producers now at the front, these, he said, probably represent 30 or 50 per cent, ot those employed in the United Kingdom. Yet they were supplying all the munitions necessary for the prosecution of the war, and were maintain, ing the export trade at 90 per cen--OfS its pre-war level. (Applause) Such a fact was positive proof that their country could still be considered the first manufacturing and trad ing country in the whole world. (ApplLe). There was no other country that could have carried on the war and maintained its general trade at the level now attained. Instead of Se going down after, twoyears, their trade had gone up. This coma n W mean that when a norma, state etrned! the British manufacturer was going to J£ manufacturer was fighting a mst as much as the army m the hew, he was not going to fight alon^ but would have the J Dominions, because tney ft thereby cementing the as had never been cemented in the pas 1 It the conclusion of his re-A Mi Dalton was loudly JPP^ de^ thanks* address, bis exceedingly lnteiesnub The motion was seconded by the mX-oi and carried by acclamation.