TRADE WITH GERMANY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 131, 4 June 1937, Page 8

TRADE WITH GERMANY

MR. WASH'S VISIT

NO CHANGE IN POLICY

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

LONDON, May 12.

An interesting announcement has been made by the "Saturday Review" to the effect that the Hon. W. Nash, New Zealand Minister of Finance, reached a tentative agreement while he was ..in Berlin ; which is expected to double the volume of two-way trade between Germany and New Zealand. When it was brought to the Minister's notice, ho declared that he had no knowledge of the. origin of the statement, and that the policy of the New Zealand Government in regard to trade inside the Commonwealth of Nations had not been altered. "Conservative thinkers may, with some justice, criticise the more extreme Socialist - ideas of the New Zealand Government, -but there is no fault to be found with its endeavours to increase the prosperity of the Dominion by widening the volume of external trade. Mr. Nash," said the "Saturday Review," "has concentrated since he arrived in this country chiefly on plans for developing trade between the United Kingdom and New Zealand. His Government has made Empire trade the corner-stone, of its commercial policy, and there is no fear of any departure from this line. "At the same time, New Zealand realises that the Dominions cannot continue to look to the United Kingdom as practically their only market on this side of the world. It was with the object of finding new avenues for the disposal of the Dominion's increasing products that Mr. Nash left recently on a visit to Germany and Russia. He returned at the beginning of the month, justly satisfied with the results of his trip. , ■

"His conversations with German leaders demonstrated that there are big trade opportunities on the Continent for those Dominions which are enterprising enough to go out and seek them. Parenthetically, it may be remarked that this fact had been demonstrated earlier by the conclusion of a trade agreement between Germany., and Canada. Mr. Nash has reached a tentative agreement which is expected to double the volume of two-way trade between Germany and New Zealand. Certain formalities have yet to be observed, but it is virtually certain that the pact will be signed and sealed before Mr. Nash leaves for New Zealand in June.

"Such success should hearten the other Dominions. It may also have the more practical effect of inspiring their trading representatives to explore the huge* field of the Continent in an endeavour to strengthen their own prosperity, and, with it, that of > the Empire."

MR. NASH'S COMMENT.

"I have no knowledge of its origin," said Mr. Nash when the article was brought to his' notice. "The policy of the New Zealand Government in connection with trade inside the Commonwealth of Nations has not been altered in any way. New Zealand will give the Home Government first access to the Dominion's surplus products and will endeavour to come to an agreement with the United Kingdom with a view to utilising the credits obtained from sales of New Zealand goods in the United Kingdom in purchasing manufactured goods from the Old Country.

"To the extent that the United Kingdom does not require the goods froni New Zealand, then the policy must inevitably, lead to an ; extension of. New Zealand' trade, witli.'oth.er.,' countries. The discussions in. Germany and Russia were friendly and helpful, and I am hopeful that the trade will_ be extended on a reciprocal basis 'to the advantage'of both exporting and importing countries."