CHANCE FOR DOMINION

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 131, 1 December 1930, Page 10

CHANCE FOR DOMINION

POINTED OUT BY CONSUL

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") AUCKLAND, 30th November. There arc excellent prospects at present for an extension of New Zealand's export trade to the Continent, according to M. A. Nihotte, Consul for Belgium at AVcllington, who returned by the Aorangi yesterday after revisiting his own country. M. Nihotte pointed out that goods from Belgium to the value of about £600,000 aro imported annually into the Dominion, and against this exports are valued at only £240,000. Tho balance of trade, he said, was against New Zealand, and yet Canada and other countries virtually controlled the, markets in Belgium which had not been exploited by New Zealand. "There is a chain of English shops in Brussels, and I was surprised to find that they did not sell New Zealand honey," M. Nihotte said. "They sell a blend of English honey which is not satisfactory, and I should think there would be a golden opportunity for New Zealand exporters to investigate this market. Similarly, I did not see any New Zealand cheese in Belgium, although there appeared to be a good demand for Canadian cheese. Canada sends large quantities of apples also to Belgium, and I was told that they fetched higher prices there than in England. The reason is not hard to find. Canada has taken care to build up her European trade. At the Antwerp Exhibition Canada had a large pavilion to advertise its industries and products; New Zealand had none. Then, again, Canada has a trade commissioner in Belgium who is doing excellent work. South Africa also has a trade commissioner investigating trade possibilities in Belgium and other European countries." TKADE COMMISSIONER SUGGESTED. M. Nihotte said that he interviewed officials at the High Commissioner's office in London in an endeavour to see whether something could not be done to increase' New Zealand's trade with European countries, and Belgium in particular. He had been told that the London office had its attention fully occupied by the claims of the English market, which was not yet -fully developed. "Naturally one could not expect the London ofSce to deal with Continental trade," M. Nihotte said. "Its own sphere of activities is wide, and it is doing good work, but I submit that it would pay New Zealand to appoint a trade commissioner to Belgium and other European countries. Canada and South \ Africa have found 'that this policy is highly profitable. I certainly did all I could as unofficial publicity agent for the Dominion while I was in Belgium." CONDITIONS IN BELGIUM. Changes, many of them for the better, had occurred in Belgium during the last three years, M. Nihotte continued. Farmers were grumbling because of low prices, and manufacturers were anxious at increases in tariffs in other countries, but economically and industrially Belgium was in a better position than most other countries. However, Belgium still had to import 85 per cent, of her food products. The market for butter might not be as good as that for wheat, but it was a market that would repay New Zealand exporters for investigation.