QUEST FOR TRADE

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 69, 14 December 1932, Page 8

QUEST FOR TRADE

Efforts by Australia MARKETS IN EAST Chance for New Zealand The efforts being made by Australia to find new markets for the disposal of her exportable products was the chief impression retained by Mr. H. Livingstone Tapley, C.M.G., ex-Mayor of Dunedin and ex-M.P. for Dunedin North, as a result of a five weeks’ business and pleasure visit to the Commonwealth. Mr. Tapley, who returned by the Monowai from Sydney yesterday morning, said that already Australia had. built up a large Eastern trade. Ho considered-that any money wisely spent by New’ Zealand in the development of markets in the East would be in Australia are still very bad,” said Mr. Tapley. “The depression is still very much felt, although there is a greater feeling of optimism than there has been for some time past. Bankers and other financial people told me they do not see the backing to justify this optimism. Australia, like New Zealand, cannot regain its prosperity until the prices of its primary products reach a payable basis, and 'despite what the economists might say about currencies and the such-like, the fact remains that the lifting of the depression is dependent on payable prices for primary produce. Bountiful Wheat Harvest. “Australia is fortunate in that it has had a bountiful wheat harvest, although the prices are not payable without Government help. Australia expects to net the huge sum of £22,000,000 sterling from its wheat production. We must look to the Motherland for increased prices, and this can only be achieved by more prosperous times in Britain, which will give the masses of the people greater spending power and enable them to buy our butter, cheese, meat, and w’oollen products. “To bring this about the Dominions must buy as largely as possible from Britain to stimulate her industries. In this respect Australia has built a high and almost unsurmountable tariff wall which is shuting out British manufactures. Many commercial men to whom I spoke felt that there should be a very large mollification in the existing Customs tariff. Perhaps it would eliminate some industries that are only kept going by the high, tariff, but it would be better off for the country as a whole.” Exhibition Steamer. Mr. Tapley was struck with the great effort being made iu Australia to secure other markets and thus relieve Britain of her obligation to take from the Commonwealth all its primary produce. Although a large trade was already being done with the East, further stimulation would be given to this by the fitting-out of an exhibition steamer, one of the Royal Dutch Mail Packet liners. This steamer would be fitted out with exhibits of all’Australian products and visit the East at the time of the Hong-Kong exhibition. “New Zealand,” said Mr. Tapley, “is equally entitled to a good deal of this Eastern trade, and I am glad the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Hon. R. Masters, is obsessed with this view also. Any money wisely spent in the development of trade with the East will be more than justified by the results that will be achieved. While I do not consider the expense of an exhibition ship is necessary to further our interests in the East, my opinion is that a trade commissioner possessing the highest commercial qualifications should be sent there.

“In some of these places in the East cool storage ij; not available, but I think this could be easily financed through the medium of the Dairy Control Board and the Meat Producers’ Board, which have the means of levying on those who would benefit by the expansion of trade. The necessary finance could be found without increasing the present levies.”