Expansion Of N.Z. Exports

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32114, 9 October 1969, Page 13

Expansion Of N.Z. Exports

Products made in New Zealand were now penetrating more than 100 markets, the president of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation (Dr H. C. Holland) said in his report to the federation’s annual conference in Wellington yesterday. For the year to June 30, exports by manufacturers were valued at $9S.2m. This was s3lm more than in the previous year, and represented 9.8 per cent, of New Zealand's total exports for the year, Dr Holland said. Exports of ceramics and other non-metallic products, textiles, electrical machinery, transport equipment, metal products and footwear had all nearly doubled, and those of clothing and furniture had nearly trebled. Some doubts had been expressed whether the export drive would continue jiow that more buoyant trading conditions had returned within New Zealand, Dr Holland said. Some companies would move into and out of export

with the ebb and flow of competitive enterprise, and eacb would have to make its own decision, taking into account its obligations to supply the home market as well as to

meet export orders. But the federation’s export committee was confident that most companies would recognise the dangers to New Zealand of neglecing overseas markets. The overall picture of Far East markets visited by federation trade missions was of rapid industrial expansion against a background of stagnation in the agricultural activity that formed the original bases of their economies, said Dr Holland. The pool of surplus labour thus maintained in all these countries had kept wages at subsistence levels and internal consumption was correspondingly depressed. As these problems were resolved and internal purchasing power increased, the size of the markets so revealed would be immense. “This has not escaped the attention of other countries, and it is apparent that Australia, the United States and some European countries are very active in the area,” said Dr Holland. “With one or two noticeable exceptions, New Zealand is far behind in the race for preferred positions at the starting gates. Conditions in such countries as Indonesia

and Korea may not be just right for our traditional conservative business approach, but then they never will be. The approach must be tailored to suit the conditions.” Dr Holland said that an increasing number of federation members were returning from selling trips abroad with favourable reports on the advice and assistance they had received from New Zealand trade commissioners. It was apparent that the Government was strengthening trade posts, but there was an urgent need to continue to expand the overseas trade representation. “There is no doubt that New Zealand would benefit with increased trade if we had permanent trade representation in both Manila and Johannesburg,” he said.

Garden Judges.-The judges . x . . . „ .. , of the Canterbury Horticultural Society’s spring garden competition were Messrs S. W. Gower. D. Riach and S. w W. Dyer, not Messrs Gower. Riach and J. Watling, as reported yesterday.