Turin Trade Group Happy

Press, Issue 30997, 1 March 1966, Page 3

Turin Trade Group Happy

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, Feb. 28. The 16-man trade mission organised by the Turin Chamber of Commerce left Auckland tonight after a 2| day stay happy with the contacts they had made for increasing trade between New Zealand and their province.

“Several of our members who are interested in importing butter and other foods to Italy have been very satisfied and others wishing to export machinery and some types of textiles to you are very pleased,” said Dr. Giovanni Vitelli, leader of the mission and president of the Turin Chamber of Commerce. The mission realised that New Zealand’s overseas balance of payments problem and the import licensing system posed difficulties over trade, but there were still opportunities to do business, said Dr. Vitelli. “We recognise that to liberalise trade is a political question and can only be

done with the help of our respective Governments,” he said. “You can be sure that we will make our views known to our Government in Italy.” The possibilities of a barter deal by which Italian manufactured goods could be directly exchanged for New Zealand primary produce, was mentioned by Dr. Vitelli when it met representatives of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce this morning. Earlier, the chamber president, Mr T. R. Sussex, said that while New Zealand’s overseas balance of payments problem made trade conditions difficult, there were still many opportunities to do business here. Dr. Vitelli, through an interpreter, said New Zealand’s import control system was a problem to be overcome. His own firm had made many technical advances in the production of nylon, and more liberal conditions for trade would enable New Zealanders to share the benefits of these innovations more quickly. Mr Sussex said the question of reciprocal barter was one to be taken up at a political level, between the Italian and New Zealand Governments. The managing director of Amalgamated Dairies, Ltd., Mr W. D. Goodfellow, said the New Zealand Government wished to get away from the idea of barter trade. He agreed with Mr Sussex that the subject could be taken up at a political level.