FRENCH MISSION.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16408, 31 December 1918, Page 7

FRENCH MISSION.

VISIT TO CANTERBURY,

Last week the Mayor (Mr H. Holland) extended an, invitation to the French Mission to attend tho function on January 9th in connexion with the reopening of the North Canterbury Sheepfarmers' Co-operative Freezing Company at Kaiapoi. Yesterday Mr Holland received u telegram from General Pau thanking him for the invitation, but regretting that owing to the brief stay to be made by the Mission in Canterbury it was impossible to spar© tho time to be present at tho function. NEW ZEALAND AND FRANCE. PROPOSALS FOR ESTABLISHING RECIPROCAL TRADE. The French Mission, in addition to other matters, is interested to a considerable extent in tiie question ot commercial relations between New Zeaiand and France.

Speaking on the matter at Auckland on oaturuuy (telegrapiis the correspondent of the ''Otayo Daily Times"), M. H. Corbiere said that wnen they left France tiiey had only intended to pay a visit to Australia. Tho New Zealand Government, however, had invited them to visit this country and they had gladly availed themselves of the opportunity. Personally he was interested in stock, and had a racing stud in his own country. He bred both racehorses and draught horses as well as cattle and sheep. Wliiie in Australia he had seen some fine types of bulls and rams importod from New Zealand, and he was anxious to see for himself the stocks from wiiich these had been bred. "Wo have been invited here," he said, "and we want now to learn all we can about your country, and what proposals you nave to make in the- direction of promoting closer commercial relations between our two countries. Wo want to talk with you and discuss matters so that We will know what is best to be cioue. Our principal aim is to replace the Germans. vVe did a lot of trade with the Germans, but will do away with that, and wo will bo pleased if New Zealand will do the 6ame and trade with us. As wo have been together during the war, wo hope we will go on together. Wo 'will want your wool and your meat, and perhaps other things; your wool we will always want, and we wilL want your meat tor years at least, while wo aro breeding up our own flocks and herds again. After the war 1 tlnnk most of our men will want to go on eating 'war meat.' " xvl. Marcel Mathieu said he was interested in commerce generally, but principally in its relation to soft goods. They wanted to ascortain what the possibilities of Zealand were, and particularly the possibilities of trade between the two countries. France had been doing big business with New Zealand for a long time, but it had been done through London, and they had done very little direct business with this country. Their idea was that agents could be established in New Zealand and travellers could also be sent here from time to time. ,They were desirouß of replacing German trade in every possible way. France was a large buyer of wool, flax, tallow, and even rabbit-skins, and there should be a great opportunity at the present time of arranging a reciprocal trade between the Dominion and his country. New Zealand could also hitvo agents in France, and he was certain that it something on these lines were done it would be mutually beneficial. ' The cordial relations existing between the French and New Zealand troops were emphasised by Commandant D. Andre, and aide-de-camp to General Pau. "I have seen New Zealand troops in action, said the commandant, "and I consider them some ot the finest in the world. / He said that the relations existmg between tho two armies were most friendly. v> e have mutual pride." he said, in our troops' deeds, for they were all fighting one fight for civilisation. The German is a barbarian, and he will never again be able to claim the rights of civilisation?' Commandant D. Andre has had an honour conferred on him, ot which he is very proud. ' I have been made a colonel of the Australian Forces," he said, "and General Pau has been given an Australian general s command. *