TRADE COMMISSIONER

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 54, 1 September 1934, Page 10

TRADE COMMISSIONER

MR. R. H. NESBITT WELCOMED

FURTHERANCE OF GOOD WILL

( .A number of business men and Government officers at an informal gathering in the Hotel St. George late yesterday afternoon greeted Mr. It. H. Nesbitt, the newly-appointed Australian. Trade Commissioner. He was heartily welcomed to New Zealand, and the opportunity was taken to pay tribute to the work done by Mr. S. W. M. Stilling, representative of the Aus-. tralian National Travel Association, who is returning. to Australia.

The Minister of Finance (the Et. Hon. J. G. Coatcs), in welcoming Mr. Nesbitt, said that the establishment.of an Australian Trade .Commissioner'a office here would be of great value. The Government was anxious that the best relationship should exist between the great Commonwealth of Australia aiid tho little Dominion of New Zealand. Mr.'Coates, said: that Mr. Stilling 'a work Lad brought about a measure of good will between the two countries. He had carried out a very difficult task admirably, and later, no doubt, an appreciation would be forwarded from the New Zealand to tho Australian Government.

The Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. B. Masters) also welcomed Mr. Nosbitt, and expressed regret at the departure of Mr. Stilling. Mr. Nesbitt's appointment, he said, was one that was going to be very helpful in developing trade between the two countries.

Mr. Nesbitt said he was grateful for the cordial welcome extended by Mr. Coates and Mr. Masters^ He regretted that Mr. Stilling could not remain,' and it was a question of "could not" because of the peculiar constitution affecting Australian public servants. His own appointment was the result of the visits to New Zealand of Sir William Massy Greene and the Hon. F. Stewart, becauso they felt ;that the Australian Government had no accredited representative to st'et on its behalf here. The greatest critics of the Government in Australia were the commercial community, who said that it only made jobs to push ■* public servants into. Therefore the Government put a commercial man in the present position. He hoped to demonstrate that Australia looked upon New Zealand just as New Zealand, looked upon-Australia..

Mr..', Stilling expressed briefly his appreciation for the complimentary; remarks made in regard to his work, and" added that it was with sincere regret that he was leaving' New Zealand;