Empire Trade Must Change in Nature

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 536, 13 December 1928, Page 9

Empire Trade Must Change in Nature

LUNCHEON ADDRESS OPTIMISTIC COMMISSIONER •'With time the character of Empire trade will doubtless change. The development of suitable local industries will diminish the demand for certain British produets. The Dominions probably will concentrate on the production of foodstuffs, raw materials and the simpler manufactures, and the United Kingdom will produce K<*>«* reuniting a high degree of specialised skill, plant and experience." This was the opinion expressed at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon today by Mr. W. D. Lambic, British Trad© Commissioner. "Emigration and a. slackening of the grow tli of population will, in time, solve Britain's present unemployment problem, and Empire trade will long remain one of the foremost factOTs in world economics,” ho continued. He attributed to the co-operation following the world war the brightening position to-day. To-day, he said. Britain was not played out, nor would it ever be. In his opinion Great Britain was emerging triumphantly from the difficulties following the war. Industries which had been her mainstay had suffered most severely. The coal industry had suffered a permanent setback. Iron, steel, cotton and wool were all suffering, but other industries had come to the fore with startling rapidity. The chemical and electrical industries saw her in the lead. The car industry had doubled and added its quota to tho exports in the other two mentioned, and the cinema producers were going ahead by leaps and bounds. The unemployed made a black picture, but again Britain was bearing a huge war debt. In addition Britain was largely bearing the burden of Empire defence. Diminution of purchasing power in other countries, and their increase in internal manufacturing also had. affected the British industries. One of the most hopeful features at Home was the more cordial relations between Capital and Labour. NEW ZEALAND’S POSITION As far as New Zealand was concerned, Mr. Lambie pointed out that the country used to import more than half her outside goods from Great Britain, but there had been a general decline, the lowest ebb, 45.6 per cent., being reached in 1926. A two per cent, improvement was noted in 1927, and was being maintained. Mr. Lambie pointed out the benefits of New Zealand trading with Great Britain, and remarked on the fact that Britain was allocating £1,000.000 annually to further the operations of the Empire Marketing Board. Britain was not antagonistic to the local manufacturer, and was at pains to advise him of markets, and to assist in securing machinery and raw material, where possible, from Empire sources. New Zealand in turn was playing her part, and her generous tariff preference had been of invaluable assistance.