Prospects Of New Zealand Exports To Queensland

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31158, 7 September 1966, Page 9

Prospects Of New Zealand Exports To Queensland

' (Special Crspdt. N.Z.P.A.) BRISBANE, Sept 6. While New Zealand makes concerted efforts to increase its exports across the Tasman, primary producers throughout Australia remain opposed to the Australia-New Zealand Limited Free Trade Agreement, according to a leading Queensland dairyman. Dairy farmers in Queensland were among the most militant and vocal opponents of the agreement when it was signed a year ago. “Our silence in recent months does not mean we are happy with it. We have merely accepted the situation,” said Mr A. P. Beatty, president of the Queensland Dairymen’s Organisation.

But although primary producers here continue to keep a wary eye on export moves by New Zealand, many wellinformed and influential people are convinced there is a great potential market for New Zealand products in Queensland. As New Zealand opened its new trade commission in Brisbane last week, a Queensland Government Cabinet Minister told me: “If we have to import goods from overseas we would sooner get them from you than anyone else.” The main complaint of the dairy farmers was the entry of New Zealand cheese on to the Australian market. Speciality cheeses are now allowed freely into Australia, while limited amounts of New Zealand Cheddar can be imported each year. Mr Beatty said every Australian dairyman regarded thr importation of each pound of New Zealand cheese as

(“money taken from his own pocket” But others point out that I there is an increasing demand iin Australia for speciality cheese which she is importing from Europe. Mr R. Browning, a Brisbane grocer and president of the Queensland Retail Traders’ Association, said: “New Zealand has a reputation for quality produce and should be allowed to supply this market.” Queensland is a rapidly developing state, gradually swinging to a more balanced economy with less reliance on primary industry. The New Zealand Trade Commissioner in Brisbane, Mr A. F. Jacobsen, believes that as this happens New Zealand export prospects—particularly for foodstuffs—will increase.

Already New Zealand frozen and canned vegetables, soups,

baby foods, biscuits, sweets, fish, cheese and honey are selling well in Queensland.

A Cabinet Minister who is satisfied with this development is Mr H. Richter, State Minister for Conservation and Forests. “We realise there is a great trade imbalance and we can’t expect you to buy from us unless we buy from you.” New Zealand timber exports to Queensland are small at this stage, and prospects for soft woods are limited, but Mr Richter believes New Zealand pulp exports could increase in the next few years. New Zealand’s best prospects for increasing exports of all kinds could lie in North Queensland, particularly around Townsville, nearly 1000 miles north of Brisbane, which is Australia’s fastestgrowing city after Canberra. Large military installations are going up near the city, and New Zealand could find a ready market for tinned and frozen foods for the influx of service personnel expected shortly. Trade officials here hope that the opening of the new post in Brisbane will encourage more New Zealand businessmen and exporters to include Queensland iu their Australian itineraries. They feel most exporters are missing opportunities to gain a share of a growing market by concentrating on Sydney and Melbourne when they cross the Tasman.