SKILLED NEGOTIATORS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 261, 4 November 1935, Page 6

SKILLED NEGOTIATORS.

This is undoubtedly a period «f political and economic transition. Our- overseas trade obviously needs special attention, expert treatment, and, above all, expansion. In fact the country, facing election changes and all the consequences of Geneva sanctions, wants a trade policy to be evolved, and no longer blindly followed. It is printed that the present Government knows men and markets. It is said: "They are skilled negotiators." They lack, apparently, skilled navigators —to steer successfully the export ship into paying harbours. So concrete steps should be outlined by capable leaders to evoke the country's ideas rather than wait for them to show themselves, or, worse still, to invent them and ingratiate them into the country's favour. The country certainly can have no patience with a Government which falters or with oppositions which stir up production costs. It would bo a tragedy indscd if the only real income exports of primary products were destroyed in this country because the Government and both the oppositions deliberately desire to fail In establishing fresh outlets for the surplus of our produce (not wanted ,in Britain). To sit and to wait again, and indefinitely, is becoming tiresome and very uncomfortable. We slip back into helpless, isolated conditions. Men of initiative are wanted just now, big in vision and capable by experience to guarantee the country a definite line of expanding markets by fostering private work and initiative. ALEX. S. TETZNER.