IMPERIAL TRADE.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 43091, 11 May 1907, Page 4

IMPERIAL TRADE.

The New Zealand -High' Commissioner, went to Liverpool by invitation ah the end of March to open the ■Colonial Products Exhibition, at which New Zealand was represented by an excellent display. In the course of his introductory remark 1 . Mr Reeves alludy ed to the great subject of trade development within the Empire, and said lie trusted that some attention, official or otherwise, would 'be given: to it at the coining conference of colonial Premiers. In saying that -he -did not mean to suggest that there "Was • only one policy by which Imperial -trade could he increased and fostered: There were many ways of doing it. For instance, in Liverpool oil© could not do he thought, in referring to the immense importance of shipping, and the encouragement and guidance of shipping (business as a means of developing Imperial trade. As far as Imperial trade was' concerned, he thought it quite possible that those Who urged that Imperial shipping should receive some wise and judicious emcourasrement in certain directions were not far wrong. The colony of New 'Zealand was doing its best to foster more direct Communication between its own shores and the port of Liverpool. It had done its best to support >a line of steamers to the ports on the West coast of England, and among those ports Liverpool stood! first. He trusted that its efforts had met with the approval of the great magnates of Liverpool commerce, and that Liverpool shippers and Liverpool merchants would do their best-to show the enterprise what countenance they ciould. He Was aware that New Zealand was not one of the largest of Great Britain’s colonies, but it was a very flourishing and progressive community. In an address about, seven years ago to the Leeds Chamber of Commerce he pointed out that he expected the next annual trade returns of New Zeialnd would show an annual total trade of twenty millions sterling. The remark was cheered,' and the Yorkshire men of business thought that was a very solid amount of business for such a little idountry. ■ That was sera years ago, and 1 the trade had eixpended since then to .between thirty three and thirty-four millions sterling. Mr (Reeves .evidently inclined to the opinion that Imperial reciprocity Would be helped on hy the payment off subsidies t»o' the Vessels carrying produce 'between the colonies and the Motherland.