TRADE WITH U.S.A

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 24, 28 July 1933, Page 9

TRADE WITH U.S.A

(Iflß. FORBES'S VISIT

EXPORTERS NOT OPTIMISTIC

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Day. There is no feeling of optimism among produce exporters in. Auckland concerning Mr. Forbes's forthcoming visit to Washington. /

One exporter pointed out that the wholesale price of butter in New York yesterday was Is a pound. Duties amounted to 7d a lb, and 2d must be allowed for the cost of placing the butter on the market. London buyers today were offering 9Jd a lb. Even if the American tariff were abolished it wouldbe difficult for New Zealand to sell'1 her butter there. Mr. Roosevelt's aim was to increase internal price levels, and a large quantity of New Zealand butter would loSyer prices. In the case of Canada the increase in wheat and wool prices would be followed by a certain amount of change over from dairying, and later on. this would enable more New Zealand produce to be "sold, but the total would be only a small percentage of our production.

Another exporter said that Mr. Forbes might as well stay in London. If he obtained any concession in Washington he would have to pay dearly for it. ' '

The president of tho Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Turner, said that any agreement arrived at must be decisively in New Zealand's fayo'ur, because the present balance of trade was heavily in America's favour, and it must also not be detrimental to our trade with Britain. Unless an agreement was very much to New Zealand's advantage and not to Britain's - disadvantage . ,

the move would not bo worth, attempting.