Australians Told Of N.Z. Resentment

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31320, 16 March 1967, Page 1

Australians Told Of N.Z. Resentment

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) MELBOURNE, March 15. Australian businessmen and trade officials were today warned of a growing resentment within New Zealand at the high trade imbalance between the countries.

They were told that New Zealanders could become reluctant to buy Australian-made goods if the trade gap continued to widen.

Mr H. W. B. Patterson, of Wellington, leader of the New Zealand trade mission at present touring Australia, gave this warning at a straighttalking session with representatives of the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce, the Victorian Chamber of Manufactures and Australian Government officials.

He repeated his remarks at • press conference and at a lynch for mission members given by the Victorian Employers’ Federation. McEwen’s View Mr Patterson denied that New Zealand had a “phobia” about the trade gap as claim ed recently by the Australian Deputy Prime Minister (Mr McEwen) and added: “We do not expect the imbalance to disappear. That would be unrealistic. “We do not want to see restrictions against imports from Australia, but we want you to buy more from us.’ Mr Patterson said New Zealand wanted the trade gap, which had increased from £NZ4 million to £NZSI.2 million over the last 20 years and was still increasing, to level out. “We are not asking for any favours but you must realise that increased trade between our two countries will be to our mutual advantage. “By helping us you will be helping yourselves.” “Constant Carping” Mr Patterson called , for an end to “constant carping, sniping and critictan” between the two countries. “At the same time there has been too much back-slap-ping and airy talk about hands clasped in friendship across the Tasman.

“That has got to stop. It is getting us nowhere. Now we have to get down to straight talking and economic trading.”

Mr Patterson said the mission which arrived in Melbourne last night after visiting Brisbane and Adelaide was proving “very successful” after initial set-backs in Sydney. “We believe New Zealand can do better with its exports to Australia than anyone ever imagined,” he said. Mission members were

closely questioned about New Zealand’s present economic situation at this morning’s press conference and they hotly denied a suggestion that the economy was about to collapse and the country enter a serious depression. Mr Patterson said: “That will only happen if the world stops eating food and wearing clothes.”