NEW ZEALAND AND SWEDEN

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25878, 10 August 1949, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND AND SWEDEN

CLOSER RELATIONS POSSIBLE

Because both countries were long and narrow in shape and faced similar communications, transportation, and electric .power problems there were grounds for hoping that closer relations might be developed between Sweden and New Zealand, said Mr O. G. Bjurstrom, second secretary of the Royal Swedish Legation in Australia, who is acting consul for Sweden in New Zealand, in an inter- j view in Christchurch yesterday. Sweden might be able to assist New Zealand in planning the electrification of her railways, said Mr Bjurstrom. Swedish railways were almost entirely 1 electrified, a factor that had been of immense advantage during the war when his country, which had no coal of her own, was cut off from outside import sources. As were British Commonwealth countries, Sweden was faced with a dollar, shortage, said Mr Bjurstrom, and as a result in the last two years the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth had become her main trade Sartners, Sweden was interested in cw Zealand wool and was looking tn see what other New Zealand pro* ducts she might import. The trade between the two countries at present virtually balanced, amounting to about £1.250,000 in either direction. Sweden took mainly wool and exported to New Zealand paper pulp, ball bearings, and specialised steel products.

Wages Pegged by Consent Sweden was overcoming a slight inflationary trend by pegging wages for 1949, said Mr Bjurstrom. This had been made possible by an arrangement between the Government and labour groups to refrain from seeking wages increase. The Swedish Federation of Labour, the most influential labour organisation, had issued sucu a recommendation to its affiliations. His country was also endevouring to close the gap between imports ana exports. Swedish industry worked a 44-h Our week, said Mr Bjurstrom. The introduction of a 40-hour week had been discussed, but it was felt that at present the country could not afford it. Conditions of life had progressed so greatly in Sweden in the last 30 years that the country provided no fertile breeding ground for Communism. As in any country there were Communists, but these were few in numbdfr. Before the war there were three Communists out of .380 members in Parliament. After the number had risen t 045. but had since declined to eight. Even in trade unions there had recently been a heavy swing away from Communist tendencies. said Mr Bjurstrom. When Norway and Denmark had joined the Atlantic Pact, Sweden had stood out, said Mr Bjurstrom. e Being so close to Russia, she was virtually “in the first line,” and it was felt that if she joined Russia would bring increased pressure on neighbouring FinMr Bjurstrom. who left for Wellington last evening, during his visit to Christchurch collected diplomatic mail from the Swedish ship, Nimbus, at Lyttelton, and visited the Industries Fair.