TRADE CONDITIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 March 1920, Page 8

TRADE CONDITIONS.

QUICKENING OF ENTERPRISE. Auckland, March IG. Mr. R. W. Dalton, British Trade Commissioner, returned by the Ma'heno after a visit to England extending over nearly eighteen months. He said there was greater readiness than previously on the part of manufacturers to discuss overseas trade. 'ln fact," said Mr. Dalton, "the number of manufacturers in all branches of industry who visited me constituted a record as compared with pmious visits of trade commissioners." This greater interest in export trade Mr. Dalton ascribed partly to the quickening of enterprise, partly to the fact that manufacturing works at Home had so greatly increased and enlarged that it became vital that the export trade should be developed, to provide an outlet for the immensely increased production bound to take place. A noticeable feature of the internal reorganisation was the amalgamation of existing concerns into t iar"e industrial combinations. He felt conlidcnt that British manufacturers would be able to recover the trade supremacy they formerly held. In respect of numerous complaints from New Zealand that manufacturers were not disposed to enter into delinite trade engagements for the Dominion, Mr Walton said that the existing conditions rendered the iTiimediatc undertaking of delinite trade engagements impossible, but in view of the immense increase in manufacturing plants, British firms were eager to resume and increase their trade relations with the Dominion as soon as possible. At present they were bombarded with demands from buyers from Western Europe, also from the Home markets, which they were unable to meet. With reference to transport conditions and the disposal of New Zealand commodities at Home he was unable to give any information, though, generally speaking, these were seriously affected I>y the general disorganisation due to the war, but would improve as th? industrial position became kettp