A TRADE COMMISSIONER FOR ENGLAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 May 1916, Page 3

A TRADE COMMISSIONER FOR ENGLAND.

(New Zealand Dairyman). Mr. J. R. Cruieksliank (New Plymouth), New Zealand manager for Messrs. Collett and Wliitefield, has raised a question of vital importance to every person in New Zealand, and we hasten to give it Wide publicity. England has,«s most people know, a trade commissio'er resident in New Zealand, and this officer serves a useful purpose. But Mr. Cruickshank contends that this is not nearly all that is required. He claims that New Zealand wants her own trade commissioner in England—a man who would devote himself to the work of securing that everything that is required by the Dominion shall be procured from the Mother Country whenever possible. It may be claimed that this office is filled by the staff of the High Commissioner, but this is not the case, 'the staff of the High Commissioner's office is even now much too small for the work to be performed, and, further, they have not the right man for the work required. There is only one commercial man on the staff, Mr. H. C. Cameron, and his duties have increased more than a hundredfold since he was appointed, while the limit of his duties confines him to attending to'the goods that are f.ent from New Zealand to Kngland—our Colonial produce. Mr. Cmickshank's suggestion is in reference to goods that require to be procured for use in the Dominion, and this is quite another affair When the war is over it will, or ought to, be the object of every citizen of the Empire to see that what goods he requires shall, if possible, be procured within the Empire. In the past, unfortunately, this has not been the case, and much of our money has gone to those people who are now our terrible enemies. A man to fill the position suggested would require to have a wide knowledge of the Dominion's requirements as well as an intimate acquaintance with commerce generally. If such a man were added to the staff of the High Commissioner's ofliee we are satisfied that the results to the Empire would more than justify the appointment. Will some member of the House move in this matter? Of late there has been a good deal of flag wagging in connection with ti» war, but few practical trade suggestions' have been made that will help us to meet the altered condition of affair; that we will have to face when peace is again restored.