TRADE RELATIONS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 77, 1 April 1914, Page 3

TRADE RELATIONS

AMERICA AND NEW ZEALAND ADDKESSES TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMENCE. Messrs. D. M. Parry. John Kirby, and Dr. Snowdon, American Trade Commissioners, representing the National Association of Manufacturers, delivered addiesscs to the members of the Chamber of Commerce, Industrial Association, and other business men yesterday afternoon. Mr. James Macintosh, vice-president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, who presided, briefly wpkomed tbe visitors. Mr. John Kirby, after acknowledging the welcome they had received in New Zealand, said that the people of New Zealand were not very different to the people of America— in fact,- the visitors almost felt they they were in an American city whilst in Wellington. For its size Wellington was quite up to the standard of American cities. The substantial manner in which the business houses were constructed indicated that the people were awake to the advancement of the age. He and his colleagues had come to . New Zealand as the representatives of the National Association of Manufacturers, and their object was to see if they could noL create a closer business sentiment and relationship between tbe people of this country and the United Slates. New Zealand had products which America, wanted, and America had manufactures which New Zealand could not produce. New Zealand was a young and progressive country. The United States was much older, but they recognised that there were some things that they could learn from New Zealand and Austialia. The National Association of Manufacturers was a large association, comprising manufacturers of many kinds of things. There was hardly an industry of any kind that was not represented by their association. He then enumerated the various activities of the association. Dr. Snowdon said that in his opinion a Tot of the tourist traffic which now went from America to Europe would be diveited to New Zealand and Austialia on the completion of the Panama Canal. It would be a. good thing if in the future they could arrange an exchange of University professors between Nfw Zealand and the United .States. He emphasised the importance of closer business relations between the two countries, and pointed out the great; markets -which America offered to New Zealand, which murkett,, he said, would be enormously increased on the completion of the Panama Canal. America was already importing New Zealand's primal j products. It would be a great advantage to New Zealand to be able to sell its pioducts directly to Amniica. Tiociprocity in trade was of the ittmos-t importance. It would, he (bought, be a good thing if New Zealand made some, chaugp in lespect to its preferential tariff. Mr. W. 0. Duthie (John Duthie and Co.) expie&bed tho opinion that the difference in the bills of lading between New Zealand and England and New Zealand and America' was practically an equivalent to the preferential' tariff. Mr. A. If. Milos (Murray. Roberts, and Co ) R3id he was very much impressed with what Dr. Snowdon had said about the immc-nbe possibilities of trade between New Zealand and the East.Coaat of Ameiira when the Panama Canal was opened. ll c thought it would be a good thing if New Zealand followed America's example and sent trade representatives to that /country. New Zealand was in the happy position of having numerous- 'ports and very little land carnage for. its produce. Mr. J. tr. Ilarknoss (New Zealand National Dairy Association) pointed out the existing high freights between New Zealand, and San J'ranciaco., as compared with those between this country and England. Tho overland charges in America were very high. He agreed that tho opening of the Panama Canal would revolutionise trade in the Pacific. Mr. 11. Allen- and Mr. A. D. Crawford spoki* briefly, ths latter dwelling particularly upon the prospects of our dairy industry. On the motion of the chairman, seconded by the Hon 0. H. Mills, a vote ot thanks was accorded to the visitors.