England Desires to Foster Trade

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1047, 11 August 1930, Page 1

England Desires to Foster Trade

“CAPABLE MEN NEEDED” ADVICE FROM AUSTRALIAN “I found in England a greater desire than ever to foster trade within the Empire,” said Sir William McPherson, one time Premier of .Victoria, who is returning from a trip abroad on the Aorangi. “A great many English business men realise, of course, that Free Trade, as far as Australia i 3 concerned, is not within tho range of practical politics. Upward of £460,060,000 is invested in industry in Australia and any action of the Government which would jeopardise those industries is not acceptable to the Commonwealth.” Sir William sees no reason why, under certain tariffs conditions, goods could not be obtained from Great Bri tain which are at present obtainable there but are imported from other countries. EXCLUSION OF GOODS He found deep concern in England regarding unemployment, and many business men were greatly perturbed by the recent regulations by the Federal Government concerning the exclusion of goods from overseas. “However, no one seems to have suggested a better remedy for our troubles in Australia,” be said. ‘ It is necessary for us to balance our Budget and obviously restriction of imports is the only way this can be done. “During my stay in England, I suggested to several leaders of industry that they send out to Australia men who were well versed in trade to see what goods we imported and to see why, if they were obtainable in Great Britain, they were not imported from there. CAPABLE MEN NEEDED “The only way to get a proper basi3 on which to work is to treat the whole question as it would be treated by a business man—to send out men who could get the necessary information, to see what trade is offering and where improvements could bo During his stay abroad Sir William visited Germany, Belgium and other parts of the Continent. “I am convinced by what I saw in Germany that commercially she will be on top again in a few years. Although trade is slack, factories are working all the time. “The Germans are building up hugs stocks in anticipation of a revival in trade and when that revival comes she will be ready to put her goods on the market.” In Belgium Sir William found that there were no unemployed.