TRADE TREATY WITH AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20997, 27 October 1933, Page 12

TRADE TREATY WITH AUSTRALIA

FIGURES QUOTED BY MR L. J. SCHMITT HOPES OF BETTER BALANCE (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—By ELECTKIC T-ELEGBAPH—COPyiUOHT.) CANBERRA, October 26. Mi' L. J. Schmitt, New Zealand Trade Commissioner in Sydney, states that New Zealand has increased its proportion of several important classes of imports from Australia during the last three years, as follows:—Confectionery, 57 per cent.; hosiery, 12 per cent.; stationery, 20 per cent.; paints and varnish, 39.8 per cent.; iron and steel, 47.6 per cent.; fencing wire, 17.5 per cent.; electrical machinery, 11.2 per cent.; leather and leather goods, 24.4 per cent.; glass and glassware, 16 per cent.; books, papers, and music, 16.2 per cent,. "As a matter of fact," he said, "New Zealand is Australia's best customer, Australia's share of the grand total of i imports into New Zealand being 11.64 per cent, in 1032. Of all British countries, excepting the United Kingdom. Australia is the largest supplier of New Zealand's imports." Mr Schmitt expressed the hope that the new treaty would facilitate the development of trans-Tasman trade and enable New Zealand to gain a more favourable position in regard to the adverse balance, which was so very apparent at present.