TRANS-TASMAN TRADE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 17, 20 January 1940, Page 12

TRANS-TASMAN TRADE

IMPROVEMENT SOUGHT

AUSTRALIAN MINISTER'S VISIT

SYMPATHY WITH N.Z.'S

DIFFICULTIES

While it recognised New Zealand's difficulties, and her right to take the measures she deemed necessary, Australia f<?lt that none of the difficulties prevented fuller trade understanding with the Commonwealth, the Australian Assistant Minister of .Commerce (Senator P. A. M. Mcßride) said on his arrival in Wellington. Senator McBride, who accompanied Lord Willingdon on his flight across the Tasman yesterday, will represent Australia at the New Zealand Centennial celebrations.

Senator Mcßride said New Zealand and Australia had traded on a considerable scale in the past, and apparently to their mutual benefit. "We !feel," he said, "knowing the difficulties that exist at present, that any arrangements which can be made to modify the restrictions will be worth discussing. I am here, not to make any agreement, but rather to get the New Zealand outlook on these questions, which are of great moment." Senator Mcßride said the fact Jiat the balance of trade between the +wo countries in the past had been largely in Australia's favour was chiefly due to the similarity of the products of the two countries. The bulk of the imports into New Zealand from Australia were manufactured goods. "New Zealand itself is stimulating the establishment of secondary industries and may not in the future import to the same extent," Senator McBride said, "but we believe there will always be scope for considerable trade between the two countries." In order to conserve exchange Australia had introduced certain import- control measures, he said, and was entirely in sympathy with New Zealand's efforts, because Australia had herself fostered the establishment of secondary industries which she felt were necessary to any country to bring about a proper balance in its production. "We do not object in any way to New Zealand's efforts to fostes secondary industries," he said. There had been discussions before the war when New Zealand in order to conserve her exchange position introduced certain restrictions, but since the war the position had been somewhat accentuated, and as Australia herself had had to take such measures she realised entirely their necessity in this country. "We have recognised New Zealand's difficulties," he added, "and her right to take the measures she deemed necessary, and provided there is no discrimination against Australia we can have no complaints at all. We feel' that while there are difficulties none of these is insuperable." NO CONSCRIPTION. Senator Mcßride said there had been no change in Australia's attitude to the conscription of men for overseas service since the Great War, when the proposition was defeated by referendum. "The Prime Minister, Mr. Menzies, has given several definite assurances that it is not intended to introduce conscription for overseas service," Senator Mcßride said. "Nor do we think it will be necessary. We think it will be possible to get all our manpower requirements under the voluntary system for overseas service." Australia had, however, introduced compulsory military training for home defence, and the first class of men was going into camp next month. "We already have had large numbers of men applying for enlistment under the air training scheme," he said, "and the indications are that we will get all the men we require very rapidly. "In respect of the manufacture of munitions and aeroplanes, we are now far in advance of the stage we reached at the end of the last war, and we are still expanding our factories rapidly. We hope that before long we will be able to send certain classes of munitions to Great Britain. That is only an indication of the expansion of secondary industry that has taken place in Australia. An industry which was started during the last war has expanded to such an extent that we are now making more than enough for our own requirements." Senator Mcßride expects to remain in Wellington until the end of next week. He is accompanied by Mrs. Mcßride.