TRADE WITH U.S.A.

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 18, 23 January 1939, Page 10

TRADE WITH U.S.A.

TIME FOR TREATY

N.Z. SHOULD ACT

MR. J. W. COLLINS BACK

New Zealand should endeavour to arrange a trade treaty with the United States at the earliest moment, declared Mr. J. W. Collins, 0.8. E., former New Zealand Trade and Tourist Commissioner to Canada and the United States, on his return to New Zealand by the Awatea today.

Mr. Collins held the appointment— the first of its kind made by the New Zealand Government —for eight years, and he retired recently after 44 years spent in the Government service. Prior to taking up his position in Canada he was for nearly ten years head of the Department of Industries and Commerce. Mr. Collins, who was accompanied by Mrs. Collins, intends to settle permanently in the Dominion. Commenting upon the export trade between New Zealand and Canada, Mr. Collins said that the increase both in value and volume had steadily advanced during the last five years. In value alone the percentage gain, comparing the totals of 1934 (fiscal year) with 1938 aggregated 300 per cent. Mr. Collins quoted the following figures, showing the increases (1934 figures appearing first):—Wool, 349,000 dollars, 3,603,642 dollars; sausage casings, 202,390 dollars, 1,131,668 dollars; calfskins, 104,165 dollars, 325,089 dollars; cattle-skins, 9500 dollars, 755,434 dollars; apples, 36,906 dollars, 110,716 dollars; grass seed, 19,868 dollars, 108,667 dollars; butter, 125,020 dollars, 744,203 dollars; kauri gum, 16,736 dollars, 55,780 dollars. GOLDEN ERA AHEAD. The -expansion in the sale of wool, hides, and skins had been most marked, and New Zealand, had gained the position of being Canada's chief supplier of those lines. . For 1939 the trade returns would probably show a sharp decline, due to domestic products — particularly wheat—being at very low values, and thus affecting general purchasing power, but prospects indicated that the slump would be of a temporary nature, as well-informed opinion predicted that Canada was facing one of the golden eras of business for the next few years, regardless of affairs abroad. New Zealand's trade relations with the United States were equally satisfactory, despite temporary recessions, said Mr. Collins., The increases had been steady, and the Dominion's products—wool, all types of skins (including rabbitskins) —had earned high favour. Short-staple wool for carpet manufacturing had secured wide sales, particularly in 1937, and as those types were admitted duty free, future sales should be considerable. Remarking that the United Kingdom and Canada had entered into trade agreements with the United States, Mr. Collins expressed the sincere hope that New Zealand would, without undue delay, seek a like agreement for the Dominion. TIME FOR DISCUSSION. Canada had been granted reductions on 129 items, largely in agriculture products. The Minister of Marketing (the Hon. W. Nash) visited Washington in the summer of 1937, and with an expert staff thoroughly discussed treaty proposals with the Federal authorities. The able case put forward by the Minister for closer relations had now been

examined by the State Department at Washington, and Mr. Collins said that it was now expedient that the matter should be further explored, and, if possible, a treaty consummated.

The tourist traffic outlook was also most encouraging, and it was expected that the summer season would provide a record in the number of visits from Canada and the United States to New Zealand.

After leaving Toronto last June, Mr. Collins, accompanied by Mrs. Collins, visited the United Kingdom, the Continent, the Far East, and Australia. He spoke enthusiastically of the able manner in which New Zealand's primary products were marketed in the United Kingdom, and said that New Zealand's advertising methods, and the quiet, personal, penetrative work of the managers and staffs of the meat, dairy, and fruit boards deserved the highest praise. ' The methods and results achieved were certainly the envy of other competing countries.

Although the tourist traffic was seriously disrupted by the European crisis, particularly as it affected France, Switzerland, Italy, and Germany, he was astounded at the volume and value of the traffic generally and the large revenues received by countries catering for such traffic. Italy alone calculated an annual income of a thousand million lire (nominally £100,000,----000 sterling) from that source. The United Kingdom had had a record year, and all services had been crowded up to the end of September when the war clouds sent thousands of tourists backj to their homelands. France, Switzerland, Italy, and Germany sustained heavy losses in this connection —losses/ which gave rise to great complaint^ by hotelkr/;pers, transport concerns^ and others interested.

In no part of the world he had visited was any service given superiojl to that tendered to tourists by the New Zealand Government. New Zealand was earning a high reputation in this respect from all oversea travel agenciee, but the most favourable reaction came from individual travellers having a wide knowledge of the amenities offered all over the globe.