The Press WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1958. Trade Mission to China

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28699, 24 September 1958, Page 12

The Press WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1958. Trade Mission to China

Because New Zealand cannot afford to ignore any opportunity of expanding its export earnings, the Government’s decision to send Mr R. G. Hampton, the New Zealand Trade Commissioner in Singapore, to explore the Chinese market cannot but be welcomed. There are special problems in trading with China, not including shipping difficulties, because New Zealand does not recognise the Communist regime and because of its undertaking, in common with other Western nations, not to provide China with strategic materials. But if the trading is done through regular commercial channels and within the proper limits, there can be no valid objection to it. Britain, which recognises China, and other countries which do not, have found that though their trade with China is disappointingly small, it makes a welcome addition ’o their export earnings. New Zealand, too, will probably find that China offers no important relief in present exchange difficulties, but it may, as its

t industrial development continues, be a rewarding outlet - for New Zealand produce in the 1 future. Immediate prospects of ? selling meat and dairy produce - to China’s vast population are ? negligible, but a modest int crease in present sales of New 2 Zealand wool and wood pulp ? and new exports of casein, milk ? powder and tallow can reason--2 ably be expected. China has - offered to supply certain raw ? materials for New Zealand’s , secondary industries, including J sulphur, chemicals and mini erals, and a trade mission from t Peking which visited New i Zealand earlier this year gave s an assurance that China has , sufficient sterling funds to pay i for goods from New Zealand, s There is, as the Minister of s Industries and Commerce (Mr t Holloway) said, no political J significance in Mr Hampton’s t visit to Peking, Shanghai and > Canton. New Zealand trade ’ with China will not necessarily 1 hasten diplomatic recognition, t but there is no reason why it - should wait on eventual recogs nition.