Effects Of Free Trade Between N.Z., Australia

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30471, 19 June 1964, Page 12

Effects Of Free Trade Between N.Z., Australia

If a free-trade area between New Zealand and Australia were established, the effect on New Zealand manufacturing industries would be far less than the spokesmen of certain New Zealand industries predicted, said the Australian Trade Commissioner for the South Island (Mr M. G. B. Coultas) addressing members of the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Society of Accountants yesterday. Mr Coultas said he had formed this opinion in his first three months in his present post. “I have no doubt that, with a free-trade area, increasing New Zealand manufactured goods will flow to Australia,” he said. “For New Zealand to sell in Australia, you have to enter the market and sell hard and

promote actively. This Is being done by the Japanese, Germans, British, and a host of other countries which arc trying to capture a share of the Australian market. I have no doubt that New Zealand will do this.” The Australian market, said Mr Coultas, was open to New Zealand exporters in almost all items, except one or two primary industries. There were good markets in Australia for many New Zealand products.

Whether New ealand or Australia liked it or not, they were going to be forced to live increasingly with each other.

’ “The United Kingdom is now not in a position to defend us, and both countries are linked with the United States in mutual-defence pacts,” he said. Mr Coultas said he doubted whether one could call Great Britain the Mother Country today.

“We (Australia and New Zealand) will have to carve ourselves a niche in the South Pacific,” he said, “and the success or otherwise of our effort to do this will depend on the degree to which we cooperate.” The co-operation, he said, would have to be in trade just as it would have to be in defence, international relations, or any other subject. If it were achieved, New Zealand and Australia would influence South-east Asia to their mutual benefit and very considerable mutual prosperity.