N.Z.'S EXTERNAL TRADE

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24713, 2 November 1945, Page 6

N.Z.'S EXTERNAL TRADE

WIDER MARKETS ADVOCATED FUTURE EXPORTS TO BRITAIN ■ "This conference, while recognising the necessity for developing our trade with Britain to the utmost extent, emphasises the need for cultivating additional markets." This remit, on the motion of Mr E. J. Hewitt (Auckland) was carried at the concluding meeting of the Dominion conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce in Christchurch yesterday. On the motion of Mr H. J. Lichtenstein (Auckland), the conference also decided that, as soon as circumstances permitted, the Associated Chambers should consider the advisability of prom u- tlng ,2 trade delegation to India, [ China, Malaya, and the East Indies As Great Britain, in her efforts to reestablish her external trade, would no doubt be unable to export to foreign countries without taking some of the exports of those countries in return, it appeared that New Zealand could best assist Britain by finding additional markets for her produce, thus enabling Britain to have more freedom in accepting from other countries, in return for British goods, products similar to those of New Zealand, said Mr Hewitt, in the interests of self-preservation, Bruain might force upon New Zealand the need for looking for additional markets, either through restricted imports of New Zealand produce, or by a lower price for them. No effort should be spared to find other markets for New Zealand's products. This could be done without in any way affecting New +L an £ s im P° rts from Great Britain, as the Dominion's irhoorts from practically every other country far exceeded the valu of exports to them.. Increased Production The standard of living in New Zealand depended on the production and prosperity of her farming industries, said Mr Lichtenstein. There was a big margin for increased production, and so long as Britain would continue taking increasing quantities of New Zealand s products, all would be well. However, from the British point of view, there was a limit. On the.other nand, unnecessarily restrictive controls limited imports to New Zealand, the Dominion could and must import considerably more from Britain. There was a necessity for a realistic and nonest review of the whole of TJew Zealand s external trade policy, and for facing up to the need, first, of assisting Britain s trade recovery, and second, of protecting and developing-the basic primary industries with which New Zealand was by nature endowed. It was the job of the Associated Chambers to find out the exact nature of the difficulties that were impeding thei development of the Dominion's trade, and to take steps to remove them, said Mr Uchtenstein. He referred to the huge potentialities of markets in China and India, and advocated personal investigation of these markets by New Zealand businessmen. For far too long New Zealand had complacently looked to Britain to absorb 85 per cent of her available exports, said Mr J. T. Martin (Wellington). . New Zealand had failed realistically to face the possibilities of limitations in Britain's ability to absorb exports, and had also failed to consider possible markets in the United States, Canada India, Malaya, China, and the Dutch East Indies. If New Zealanders were to obtain all the desirable objectives of a higher standard of living, they must be certain of finding customers who were willing to pay them a price for their products which would make possible the attainment of those objectives. v For trade with the East, much depended on shipping facilities, and in this respect New Zealand was very unfavourably placed, said Mr Martin He suggested that steps should be taken to secure a direct shipping service with the East, to succeed the service formerly operated by the two Japanese companies, the Yamashita Kisen Kaisha and the Osaka Shosen Kaisha. and the Dutch K.P.M. company. __ lt _^ a s decided, on the suggestion of Mr W. H. Hindle (Wellington), that the Government should be urged.to do its utmost to arrange a reciprocal trade agreement with the United States.

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