BRITISH INDUSTRIAL THREATS.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 January 1939, Page 6

BRITISH INDUSTRIAL THREATS.

JT is difficult to avoid a feeling that sonic of the threats

agaiiist New Zealand lately uttered by British industrialists are inspired less by a genuine sense-of grievance than by a belief, perhaps mistaken, that this country is capable of being intimidated. Because New Zealand is engaged in a policy of import regulation, the cry is being raised, in Birmingham and elsewhere, that “it can hardly be expected that the British people will buy products from New Zealand when the latter bans British manufactures.” and more to a similar effect.

This is a denunciation of a policy that has not been proposed. Little lias yet been made known about the detail effects of the policy of import regulation the New Zealand Government has instituted, bul as to the broad effect on trade with Britain, the Prime Minister has spoken plainly and in emphatic terms. Air Savage said in a statement reported yesterday as he had said on'earlier occasions, that the aim of the Government was to give preference to those who were prepared to give preference to the Dominion—to buy where we were selling, and that: —

Having decided what we want, we are going to get it from Britain as far as we can get it from Britain. New Zealand al present buys more British goods per head of population than any other Dominion, and it is entirely improbable that she will lose that position of priority. Very possible it may be found desirable to manufacture in this country some goods that have hitherto been imported from Britain, but this does not of necessity mean that the average total volume of our trade with the Mother Country will be reduced. In any ease, it has been recognised freely by. amongst others, the British Prime Minister (.Mr. Chamberlain) and the Secretary for the Dominions (.Mr. .Malcolm MacDonald) that the Dominions have every rigid to develop their own secondary industries. It may be hoped that these Ministers represent the weight of opinion hi Britain, and that their recognition of the economic independence of the Dominions will outweigh greatly the prejudiced outcry of some sections of British manufacturers and exporters.