Trade Mission Taps Big “Potential Market”

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30129, 13 May 1963, Page 16

Trade Mission Taps Big “Potential Market”

(New Zeauna Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 12.

“We come back more than ever confident that Australia is a good market for New Zealand manufacturers and processed goods,” said Mr G. W. Lane, leader of the New Zealand trade mission to Australia, on his return to Wellington today.

The mission’s results in terms of orders booked had been very' satisfactory, he said, but even more important had been the discovery' of potential markets.

The value of sales was much greater than expected, although he was unable to put a figure on it because orders were usually for continuing supplies. Sales included crockery, ski clothing, hearing aids, metal mouldings, builders’ hardware, industrial rubber ware. leather goods, survey equipment, dishwashing machines, engineering goods battery chargers, venison and fish. Good prospects were found for knitwear and other clothing, pleasure craft and electric range components. Even more gratifying were the future prospects, said Mr Lane- but they depended on a determined and planned follow-up. In the adequatelysupplied Australian market it was unrealistic to think temporary successes could be maintained by only one trade mrssion visit. To maintain and consolidate the position might call for a flexibility in manufacturing specifically for Australian requirements, would certainly involve marginal costing where that was possible and would call for a

reassessment of the present scope of export incentives. Mr Lane said the mission had found the attitude of Australians to New Zealand imports more favourable than it had expected. Australian businessmen had given them a warm welcome and corrected the impression that they were not receptive to proposals for the development of trade with New Zealand. They were keen businessmen, but prepaired to negotiate. Persons going to Australia independently in the future would find introductions easier because of the atmosphere the mission had created. Members of the mission had been surprised at the number of people they met w r ho had thought of New Zealand as nothing more than a primaryproducing country, said Mr Lane. When told that 25 per cent, of New Zealand’s work force

was in manufacturing industries, compared with a shade under 30 per cent, in Australia, they could appreciate how New Zealand had developed. Helpfulness Evidence of a co-operative and liberal spirit in Australia had already been shown in the treatment of the mission at all levels of Government and from Australian trade associations. 7 Helpful and spontaneous assistance, particularly from the Australian Department of Trade, had made the mission’s work easier. “We are certain that our viewpoint is much better understood at all levels than it was two weeks ago, and we know our case has gained many friends,” said Mr Lane. “We must now capitalise on this goodwill. This will require an increasingly positive approach in New Zealand, both at Government and industry level.”