Exporters Criticised

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31499, 13 October 1967, Page 26

Exporters Criticised

(N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Oct. 12.

Export firms whose representatives arrived at New Zealand trade commission posts overseas, unannounced and expecting immediate help, and who failed to keep business appointments arranged for them by commissioners, were criticised today by the Assistant Minister of Customs (Mr AdamsSchneider).

So many exporters were turning up at the New Zealand Trade Mission office in Sydney

without an appointment that a circular would be sent asking firms to give adequate notice of their visits and their requirements, he said to an export symposium of Wareham Associates, in Wellington.

Mr Adams-Schneider said an exporter had advised the Trade Commissioner in Rome by letter of his visit to Rome.

“Ten firms were contacted by the commissioner, 10 appointments were arranged and the exporter did not turn up,” he said. “This is bad for our trade relations and bad business for all concerned.” He said it was essential for exporters to give adequate notice of their visits overseas and their requirements for the effective working of trade commissions.

For example the trade mission to South-East Asia in 1964 had given the prices, ranges and other details of the commodities offered by each exporter to the trade commission. On the opening morning of the exhibition the commissioners had arranged more than 70 appointments for exporters with prospective clients.

The biggest obstacle, the enthusiastic exporter might face overseas was access to markets on reasonable terms.

Much of the Government’s overseas trade work must be connected with conditions of access, Mr Adams-Schneider said.