TRADE WITH BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 August 1920, Page 8

TRADE WITH BRITAIN.

ESTABLISHING A STEAMER SERVICE. TARANAKI'S POSITION. Addressing a gathering of business men at a complimentary luncheon tendered yesterday to Sir Arnold Gridley, representative of the British Electric Company, the deputy-president of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce (Mr. T. C. List J said that New Zealand wanted to do more trade with Britain, and though this had been prevented to a very large extent by the exigencies of war from getting supplies, he hoped that the enterprise shown by the British Electric Company was evidence that Britain was going to supply New Zealand more in the future. "So far as Taranaki is concerned," said Mr. List, "we are very anxious to have direct dealings with Britain, and have-shipments brought right to the port of Moturoa." He intimated to Sir Arnold that arrangements had been made for direct shipping of. goods from an English port to New Plymouth, the boat being now on its way, and they hoped this would be the forerunner of others, ultimately developing into a monthly service. Tafanaki was a small province, but it would not be exaggeration to say that it was the most prosperous part of the most fortunate country ir. the British Empire. "Our figures for produce last year," remarked the speaker, "were over five millions; this year, with better prices, it will be probably one-third more. The exports work out at £SO pdV head of the population of 63,000. The figures for New Zealand -.as a whole show £42 per head of the population, so we easily lead in this respect. We arc one-fortieth part of New Zealand in area, but we export one-tenth of the whole of the produce. The province is only in its infancy, one-third of the area being undeveloped, and the expojts from the port of New Hyinouth for last year were 40,000 tons; the imports were 63,000 tons, so that the trade of the port amounted to 103.000 .tons. In a few years our trade will be doubled, 'ind it should lie well worth having, and we want to deal as much as we can with Great Britain." In the course of his reply to the toast of "Our Guest," Sir Arnold said Great Britain was anxious to supply the' colonies, and this was part of his mission ; for the British Electric Company.