TRADE BOOM.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1920, Page 5

TRADE BOOM.

PROSPERITY IN BRITAIN. "PRICES WILL TEND TO PALL," 8j Telegraph..—Press A«sn.—Copyright, London, July 6. Mr. Stuart McGregor, British Trade Commissioner in Australia, has returned to London after Liuuprenenßive inquiries in Britain. Ho stated that he found British progress in reconstruction and' resettlement most satisfactory in the circumstances. It was not surprising that there had been industrial unrest after the ordeal of the war, and it was to be hoped that, when the war weariness had worn oh", the shorter hours and improved conditions of labor would result in greatly increased production per unit. The country was experiencing great internal and external trade prosperity. Exports for the five months of 1920 were at a rate of £1,528,000,000 annually, compared with £034,000,000 in 1913. The former figures included £1,250,000,000, the value of goods produced or manufactured in the Kingdom. .Regarding the price of manufactured goods, Mr. McGregor stated that it was telt in many quarters that the present prices were beginning to restrict consumption all the world over, and prices would tend to fall, but a slump in Britain was not anticipated. The financial position is the United Kingdom did not cause any anxiety. •Mr, McGregor said he considered it was inevitable thai the exports from the United Kingdom to Australia should decrease in war time to the advantage of. America and Japan, but he hoped the current year would show an improvement from the British point of view.

Mr, McGregor, in a comprehensive article in the Board of Trade Journal, surveyed Australian progress, and paid attention particularly to her increased trade with other Dominions and possessions, which had more than doubled in four years. He considered British manufacturers should improve their commercial organisation in order to cope with their American rivals, whose enterprise appealed to Australians and was likely to make America a serious competitor of Britain when they gained experience of the overseas trade.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.