BE HELPFUL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 16, 19 January 1940, Page 7

BE HELPFUL.

AUSTRALIAN WISH.

N.Z. Defence Minister's

Tribute.

TRADE TALKS POSSIBLE.

(Received noon.)

SYDNEY, this tlay

The X<-w Zealand Minister of Defence, (he Hon. P. Jones, said Australia's great expansion in munition-making would make it possible, he hoped, for New Zealand to obtain from the Commonwealth many supplies that it might be difficult to obtain from Britain in wartime.

Mr. Jones unid his visit to Australia had convinced him of the need in future for more flequo-nt exchanges of visits by the leading men of each country.

"Although I have been here only three days I have accomplished more than all the letter writing in the world would have done," said Mr. Jones. "On my return to New Zealand I shall be pleased to tell my colleagues that everyone I met in Australia has shown a desire to be helpful to the Dominion. We hope that Mr. Menziee, the Prime Minister, will find time to come to the Dominion while the Exhibition is open."

Senator Mcßride, the Australian representative at the Centennial, hones to start a move for a modification of the New Zealand import restrictions and expansion of New Zealand trade with Australia.

Mr. Mcßride said, "I am not taking definite trade proposals to New Zealand, but there will be general discussions. Improved trade balances in both Australia and New Zealand make the time opportune for this." An earlier message said Air. Jones denied the suggestion (reported in yesterday's cables) that there was a mistaken belief in New Zealand that there is a certain aloofness about Australia's attitude towards that country. "The two Dominions/ , he said, "are on the best possible terms. lam sure that not one New Zealander has any complaint to make about Australia's attitude. Tu every way the two countries work with the utmost harmony." Mr. Jones spent yesterday morning conferring with the Minister of the Army, Mr. G. A. Street, on defence and war problems of common interest to New Zealand and Australia. Mr. Jones said the talks had been most valuable.