MUTUAL INTERESTS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 56, 4 September 1934, Page 7

MUTUAL INTERESTS

AUSTEALIAK TBADE

WELCOME TO COMMISSIONER

All speakers at the luncheon tendered by tie Australian Society at the Hotel St. George yesterday to the Australian Trade Commissioner, Mr. K. H. Nesbitt, referred to the importance of the new post in bringing about a clearer understanding between Australia and New Zealand in trade and in the wider interests o£ two sister parts of the Empire, to the mutual benefit of both.

The president of the society, Mr. J. T. Spears, said that his duty. was.a two-part service, one part a pleasure, to welcome heartily Mr. Nesbitt, and the other a duty tinged with regret, to say farewell to Mr. Stilling, who was leaving his post as representative of the Australian National Travel' Association to undertake other work in Australia..

The-Australians resident in New Zealand were very happy to ■ meet Mr. Nesbitt, said Mr. Spears, ■ firstly .as a fellow Australian, • and secondly as the pioneer of a service that possessed material possibilities "of. developing the excellent social and' trade relationship already existent .between the two countries. He would find the nucleus of the success of. his mission in the good will of the Government' and of thev. peoplo of New Zealand, whom he would find a warm-hearted people, ever ready to return a kindness for a kindness, and a people niost liberal in their goodwill. Mr. Stilling V departure was regretted by all Australian residents and by a very wide circle of other friends, continued Mr. Spears, and the society was glad of the present opportunity to express its thanks and appreciation of the services he had so willingly- and ably rendered and to express also their good wishes for his future success and happiness. In recognition of the excellent work he'had done, not only in-making Australia better known' to" New Zealanders, but also in making New -Zealand better and.more.favourably known to Australians and-in fostering the social side of .the life : of Australians resident in- the Dominion the society asked hm to accept, as", well as their good wishes, a :token of their' high regard.. .'...' FOR CLOSER UNDERSTANDING. Tlie Minister of Finance (the Kt. Hon. J. G. Coates) assured Mr. Nesbitt of the warmtli of the welcome from the Government and the people of New Zealand. There was a wide field of useful work before a Trade Commissioner, and the field appeared to widen every, day. Just at the present, said Mr. Coates, the Government had introduced to Parliament a very minor Customs Bill, but small and unimportant as it was (laughter) it appeared to have roused the manufacturers of Australia and- New Zealand. Here was an instance in which the advice and assistance of Mr. Nesbitt would be appreciated as of the greatest value. Though New Zealand and' Australia were close together, yet it was quite conceivable that they might get at cross purposes in the : difficult times, through which trade and industry were passing, and for that reason the policy had been adopted by both Australia and New Zealand of endeavouring to dovetail their interests.and to arrive at a complete trade understanding, said Mr. Coates. It was essential that there ghould be a trade representative who could'inform his Government of developments and possibilities and so prevent misunderstandings arising, lne Australian Society, lie was glad to say, had always taken' a long view, and he was pleased to: see at the gathering representatives of British trade, m his Majesty's Trade Commissioner, Mr. &. Boulter, and those whose businesses and interests were between. New Zealand and the western coast of America. _ Mr. Coates said that he very much regretted that Mr. Stilling wasleayinff New Zealand to take up duties in Australia. Mr. Stilling had done much in his quiet and efficient way in bringing people together and in "moving many misapprehensions.- He had done his work in a way that called for the sreatest admiration on' the part of those responsible for sending him to New Zealand and which reflected credit upon himself. His work was solid and sound, and he was a man who uras appreciated for the work he did and among Ms many friends for himself as « man. (Applause.) ■ PROMISING ATMOSPHERE. Mr Nesbitt said that he> had been almost overwhelmed by the welcomes extended Mm during the few days he had been in New Zealand, and. particularly did he appreciate the kindness and courtesy of the Government, which had done everything possible to assist him and to make his way smooth. The society's welcome he equally appreciated, and he Iked very much the toucli of wattle and gum''blossoms upon the tables. The welcomeof the Government, continued Mr. Nesbitt, was an official welcome, not merely a personal welcome, and as such was the finest promise of the relationship which would exist when the time came to discuss some of the problems which had been somewhat difficult in the past. The Government of Australia had'sent'Mm to New Zealand to speak for Australia, and when he heard Mr. Oo'ates, as representative of the New ; Zealand Government, enunciate the duties of a Trad© Commissioner from the New Zealand Government's point of view, and had learned that, they were exactly his own, he felt that the discussions could start from a common basis towards an aim mutually beneficial. Mr. Stilling thanked" the gathering for their expressions of appreciation and their good wishes, and said that he, too, greatly regretted leaving New Zealand. Mr. Nesbitt, 'he knew, would Teoeive the support, co-operation, and loyalty of the members of the Australian Societies of the Dominion, of- Australians resident in the Dominion generally, and of the Government and people of New Zealand. Mr. Nesbitt, said.Mr. 'Stilling,-'was a man of wide commercial experience, much wider than he himself could claim, and could give valuable assistance and advice for a closer understanding "between both countries.

Mr. Warwick Gregory also spoke, emphasising, the ties and mutual interests of Australia, New Zealand, and th» western coasts of the American Continent, and said that the Australian Society, taking the long view that it did, was doing good work in that re» gard, a service finer and sweeter than mere considerations of business.