Trade mission optimistic

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33694, 18 November 1974, Page 18

Trade mission optimistic

Making his fourth visit to Christchurch in six years, Mr J. Aitken, of Dundee, the leader of a Scottish trade mission to Australia and New Zealand, said yesterday that while business conditions could hardly be said to be booming they were not completely bad.

In the Australian part of the tour some members of the mission had gained a number of quite substantial orders, said Mr Aitken. “We can’t say that the present situation is one for any great expansion, but we see it as a time to consolidate our position. It is a challenging period, and I believe in being optimistic. There are enough prophets of doom about as it is,” said Mr Aitken.

Mr Aitken is deputy direc-1 tor of the Dundee and Tay-i side Chamber of Commerce; and Industry. He and three; others of the mission will bei in Christchurch until Wed-[ nesday before moving toWellington and Auckland. Mr Aitken said yesterday that the days of missions travelling entirely as a group were over, as members with varying interests tended to break off at different points to follow their own business interests.

In Christchurch he would; be calling on the Chamber

iof Commerce, the Manufac-; 'turers' Federation, and the; Lyttelton Harbour Board to; renew old acquaintances. The Dundee Harbour Trust; .handled up to 1J million: tons of shipping a year and' was becoming a major base for the North Sea oil-field, isecond only to Aberdeen, which it intended catching up. ! A number of ships with [New Zealand connections ;had been built in Dundee, re,cent ones including the [Union Steam Ship Company’s [Maheno. Marama, Ngakuta, [and Ngahere; and the industry retained a keen interest iin the New Zealand ship [market, said Mr Aitken. The others with Mr Aitken [include Mr A. S. Kyle, chairman of the Scottish Exporting Committee and managing director of a firm supplying specialised textiles; also Mr A. J. Sanders, the managing director of a dress fabrics firm, and Mr J. T, Smith, the export sales manager of a (company manufacturing steel ■products.