POST WAR TRADE.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 January 1917, Page 2

POST WAR TRADE.

FOILING ENEMY EFFORTS. MR. MASSEY'S ADVICE. . London, Nov. 8. Owing to his absence in France. Mr. Massey was unable to be present at the luncheon of the British Empire Producers* Organisation. In a letter of apology for his absence, he wrote:— "I iiave reason for believing that the Germans intend after th- war to enter upon an economic cont-st with Groat Britain, with a view to regaining the industrial and commercial position which Germany occupied prior to the outbreak of hostilities. This beim; so. the sooner we are prepared to meet them and provide our own raw material-? for our requirements, the better it will be for ourselves. In this matter every part of the Empire must to a certain extent act foi itself, and in accordance with the conditions which exist. J have looked up the position which New Zealand occupied prior to the war w.th regard to German trade, and I find that ;.ported from Germany, although we had no direct communication, over £7,000.000 word] of Gorman good-; and manufactures. On the other'hand our exports to Germany—leaving on.-, wool—and it is not necessary fer nii; to point out that we did not require to go to Germany for a market for our wool—were practically infmitesima' Jn the long list of articles which we imported I can hardly find anything which we could not produce within the Empire, and pro, bably as cheaply as obtained from Germany. "I think I can go to th.- length of saying without the slightest fear of contradiction, that during the present generation the people of' New Zealand will not purchase any enemy goods which it is at all possible to obtain within our own Empire, or from our Allies. (Cheers). In any case it will be absolutely necessary," to meet ■ the heavy responsibilities we have incurred owing to the war, that cm part of .the Empire should develop its own resources and increase its exports. (Hear. hoar). 1 think we should aim at a self-contain-ed Empire (cheers), one part producing what the other require* rnd which it cannot produce itself. It may not be possible to have free trade within the Empire for' many years to ecn;e, perhaps j never, but it is possible lor each part of the Empire to give preference to the others, and it is also possible to open the door to our Allies, and this should b( done to a far greater extent than previously." (Cheers).