N.Z. TRADE WITH SOUTH ASIA

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27038, 13 May 1953, Page 11

N.Z. TRADE WITH SOUTH ASIA

Lack Of Interest Alleged

(V2. PreM Association—Copj/riphtJ SINGAPORE, May 11. New Zealand was criticised today for not being represented here and for her apparent lack of interest in trade with Singapore. New Zealand is the only Dominion without a trade or diplomatic mission in Singapore.

New Zealand’s lack of interest, economically and politically, in Southeast Asia, has been the subject of occasional comment by British and other quarters. At. a recent conference of the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East at Bandung, Indonesia, delegates from the United States. Pakistan and Hong Kong privately expressed regret that New Zealand was the only country not represented, excepting Nepal. New Zealand is being omitted.-of necessity, from many public and private Coronation displays in Singapore because no New Zealand flags, posters or other appropriate materials are available. This busy entrepot is spending millions of Straits dollars (one dollar equals 2s 4d) on its Coronation celebrations and Commonwealth displays will be a feature not only of the decorations, but also of educational, travel and other exhibitions. But public and private officials preparing for Coronation week cannot get what they want on New Zealand because, they say, there is apparently no-one to get it from.

Mr G. M. Thomson, the Singapore public relations secretary, said after extensive inquiries today that the Singapore Government possessed one New Zealand flag. "But that is only because a New Zealand delegate attended a conference here In 1949." Mr Thomson added: “We do find it difficult to get New Zealand information because there is no source to go to." He said the Coronation arrangements included a big Commonwealth poster exhibition, but "so far we have been unable to get any New Zealand posters.” New Zealand films would be welcomed for exhibition in schools and villages by the Government’s mobile cinemas to • which other Dominions were contributing. New Zealand photographs were wanted, but were not available for Government photographic displays.

A member of New Zealand’s fairly numerous business community, who declined to be identified, said the matter went further than the absence of flags and posters. He said valuable trading opportunities were being lost by New Zealand, which had "missed the boat completely.” He added: "They haven’t the slightest interest down there in this part of the world. I offered to represent the-New Zealand Government in an honorary capacity here, but all I got was ‘No.’” Australia is represented in Singapore by a commissioner, a councillor and two diplomatic secretaries as well as a trade and assistant trade commissioner. The latest appointment has been a public relations officer.