TRADE RELATIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 112, 14 May 1927, Page 9

TRADE RELATIONS

;WITK AUSTRALIA

NEW ZEALAND'S POSITION

EXPLAINED BY MINISTER OF

COMMERCE

(United Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received 14th May, noon.)

MELBOURNE, This Day. The Hon. A. D. M'Leod, New Zealand Minister of Commerce, wag entertained at luncheon by leading business men, Mr. Ivor Evans presiding. Sir Francis Bell was also present. The chairman, in proposing Mr. M'Leod's health, stated that there were great opportunities of trade between Australia and New Zealand, but it was regrettable that friction was sometimes caused regarding tariff matters. For instance the dried fruit trade wonld be doubled if preference were given to Australian fruit. He was of the opinion that trade difficulties should be settled by friendly arrangement, and suggested that New Zealand should not send butter to Australia when it was not needed, and Australia should refrain from exporting flour to New Zealand at certain times. He strongly urged that Australia should appoint a Trade Commissioner in New Zealand.

In the course of his reply, Mr. M'Leod said that he fully realised the difficulty of the Governments concerned iv making trade arrangements that •would give general satisfaction, and that sections of the business community were liable to regard the matter ag it affected their own'business. Good results had followed the visit of the Hon. W. Downie Stewart in the matter of a reciprocal tariff, and he believed that turther benefits would accrue to both countries if a visit to New Zealand of the Commonwealth Minister of Trade and Customs could be arranged. His Government had recently been-eonsider-ing the question of encouraging a regular and more frequent steamer service between Melbourne and tht Bluff, but only the expansion of trade could bring it about. Since 1911 Australia had sold to New Zealand goods valued at £ 64,000,000, while' New Zealand had sent in return only £37,000,000. In 1911 New Zealand exports to Australia represented 11.3 per cent, of the total export trade, but the percentage had now diminished to 4.5 per cent. On the other hand Australia's share of New Zealand's import trade remained constant at 11 per cent., and until trade became more evenly balanced the present unsatisfactory position was likely to continue. In recent years New Zealand had lost considerable trade in oats, hops, and rimu timber, arid he wished to learn the reason. He had been informed that the Dominion's failure to make headway in timber exportation was due to unreliability in the standard of the quality and measurements. If this was the case he felt sure that the millers would do their best to remedy the defects from a national point of view. The aims of both countries were similar, therefore every opportunity for friendly co-operation in , trade and tourist traffic should be taken and the same in commercial and industrial problems.