Details Of Car Imports Soon

Press, Volume C, Issue 29444, 21 February 1961, Page 19

Details Of Car Imports Soon

MELBOURNE, February 20.

An announcement of the New Zealand Government’s detailed proposals for increasing car imports could be expected within a month, the deputy-Prime Minister (Mr Marshall) said today. '

He was speaking at a press conference in Melbourne, where he spent the day in discussions with Australian political and trade leaders. Last year New Zealand imported Australian cars, car parts, and knocked-down vehicles to a value of about £A2 million. Asked what the increase in Australian car exports to New Zealand was likely to be, Mr Marshall said: “Australia will get its share.” He said the increase could at this stage be of some importance to the Australian industry, which has been faced with a recession in trade and some unemployment. Balance of Trade The balance of New Zealand's trade with Australia at present favoured Australia in a proportion of about four to one. "This year we will probably buy from Australia goods worth about £5O million and our sales to Australia will total about £l3 million,’’ he said. He said he had discussed the pattern of trade between the two countries with the Federal Minister of Trade (Mr McEwen). A study group of representatives of the two Governments had been set up in Canberra io study trade problems. Asked about the prospects of employment in New Zealand for men dismissed from Australian industries hit by the credit squeeze, Mr Marshall said New Zealand would

welcome skilled tradesmen in any industry. There were also prospects for semi-skilled men in some industries. Mr Marshall attended a Cabinet luncheon in Melbourne today, and after further discussions this afternoon, left for Sydney. He will return to Wellington on Wednesday.