JAPAN’S TRADE IN PACIFIC

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28321, 5 July 1957, Page 15

JAPAN’S TRADE IN PACIFIC

Shipowners Plan To Meet Expansion

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) TOKYO, July 3. A new e?a in trans-Pacific trade was heralded today when Japanese shipping companies announced expanded services to Australia and New Zealand in anticipation of increased trade between Japan and the two South Pacific countries.

The general manager of the New Zealand Meat Board (Mr J. D. De Gruchy) arrived tonight to make a survey of the potential Japanese market here for New Zealand beef.

Mr Stanley L. Murphy of the New Zealand Dairy Products Marketing Board arrived yesterday to study prospects for increased sales of New Zealand milk and dairy produce. These visits followed close on a recent tour by two members of the New Zealand Wool Board. The Australian Minister of Trade (Mr John McEwan) arrived here today to sign a trade agreement with Japan, alleviating special restrictions on Japanese exports to Australia and granting Japan “most favoured nation” treatment under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. N.Z. Beef Shipment

From New Zealand the 7930-ton Timaru Star, is expected here early this month bringing about 2500 tons of New Zealand beef—the biggest shipment ever sent to Japan. Early this year, a Canadian trader (Mr A. V. Shriro), chartered here small Japanese whaling ships to overcome the complete lack of refrigerated shipping space between Japan and New Zealand. Mr Shriro claimed to have sold 5000 tons of second and third grade New Zealand beef in Japan in the first three months of his business.

Japanese canning companies brought another 4000 tons in their own ships under special arrangements. New Zealand trade representatives here said that the sales of New Zealand beef could easily reach a total of 30,000 tons in 12 months. More Ships to Australia On the eve of the signing of the new Japan-Australia trade agreement, five Japanese shipping companies, Nippon Yusen Kaisha (N.Y.K.),. Osaka Shosen Kaisha (0.5. K. and the Japan Line group, Mitsui, Kawasaki, and Yamashita shipping companies today announced they will increase annual sailings to Australia from the present eight, to 12. Many of these ships will also call at New Zealand ports. Nitto Shosen Kaisha, the only Japanese shipping company at present running a direct service from Japan to New Zealand, announced that it will maintain the full 12 sailings monthly, provisionally tried earlier this year, to meet growing trade demands.