N.Z.-Australian Trade Discussed In Report

Press, Volume C, Issue 29454, 4 March 1961, Page 9

N.Z.-Australian Trade Discussed In Report

Trade between New Zealand and Australia should be encouraged in every possible way, according to the trade relations committee of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand.

A report summarising the trade relations committee’s views on Australia-New Zealand trade relations has been prepared by the economics committee of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. The larger New Zealand’s adverse trade balance with Australia, the less it is able to buy from other customer countries which take more New Zealand exports than Australia does—"which has been the subject of unfavourable comment and criticism in relation to New Zealand's trade dealings with other countries," the report says. Planned efforts should be made by the trade relations committees of the Australian and New Zealand Associated Chambers of Commerce to bring the value of goods exchanged between the two countries into "closer proximity” by the opening up by Australia of trade avenues which are potentially available to New Zealand exporters, according to the report.

Although Australia is a primary-producing country, opportunities do occur whereby Australia can, to the benefit of her consumers, import types of primary produce from New Zealand—butter and frozen vegetables, for example. As a working principle, the trade relations committee considers that a trade ratio of 3:1 in favour of Australia should be the aim. It also considers that a survey of trans-Tasman freight rates might be “useful for future reference." A letter had been sent to the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr Marshall) asking him to provide the Associated Chambers of Commerce with as much information as possible from the workings of the Government consultative committee, and advising that the organisation would be pleased to keep him informed of its investigations at chambers’ level.

The Minister had replied: "The solution is largely in the hands of New Zealand’s commercial Interests themselves. Australia is a logical and ready market for New/ Zealand, and there is no access problem for almost all goods Anything your chambers may be able to do to encourage the trade-promotional activities of exporters would be appreciated.” "Very recently, we have had published reports on the results of Mr Marshall’s visit to Australia, and the advantages which could accrue to New Zealand from'the appointment by the Consultative Trade Council of a study committee to review trade between the two countries," says a note to the report by the chairman of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce’s economies committee (Mr R. B. McNish).

“In the light of the action already taken by our Associated Chambers of Commerce, the findings of this study committee will be of considerable interest to Canterbury, and other constituent chambers,” he says.