THE TRADE PACT

Evening Star, Issue 22773, 7 October 1937, Page 10

THE TRADE PACT

N.Z.'S GERMAN PURCHASES CAMERAS, CLOCKS. AND ACCORDIONS The Government’s announcement of a trade treaty with Germany recalls that German trade used to figure prominently in New Zealand statistics. During the war it fell away, and even now the amount and value of goods exchanged are not large. The balance last year was in Germany’s favour considerably. New Zealand bought £748,374 worth of German goods, and in return Germany bought only £264,745 worth of New Zealand products, of which wool constituted practically all. By the trade treaty, reductions are made in the tariffs on certain German goods, and in return for her wool, and perhaps butter, New Zealand will receive more piano accordions, mouth organs, cameras, and clocks, etc. Except perhaps in musical instruments, the New Zealand public may notice very little difference in the retail prices of German goods coming within the scope of the treaty, according to the opinions of importers in Christchurcji, the . ‘ Press ’ records. They cannot be sure yet actually the full effect of the provisions, but it appears that piano accordions, mouth organs, and clocks are most likely to be the articles which the trade will develop. . In musical instruments, particularly, a big increase in imports is anticipated. A local firm has the agency for a great German firm of musical instrument makers which produces 25,000,000 musical instruments a year, and with the reduced tariff very few Continental instruments other than those made by this firm may be able to compete on the New Zealand market. This is not including pianos, most ;of which come from Britain. New Zealand, incidentally, bought £112,683 worth of musical instruments last year from overseas countries. GOODS IMPORTED. ' Germany stands high on the list of overseas countries from which New Zealand buys goods. Outside the British Empire the only countries selling more to New Zealand than Germany does are Japan, the United States of America, and the Dutch East Indies. The value of goods bought overseas, last year was £44,134,326. Of the selling countries the principal ones were:— £ (N.Z.). United Kingdom ... 21.852,347 United State? ... ... 5,525,431 Australia .... 4,941,313 Canada 3,326,692 Dutch East Indies ... 1,722,802 Japan ... , ... 1,328,199 Ceylon 750,982. Germany ... ... ... 748,347 India ... ... •••, 554,102 Belgium ... 409,102

NEW ZEALAND’S SALES. New Zealand sells to Germany principally wool, of which aproximately 23,000 bales were bought bv German woollen manufacturers, last year. The export of butter to Germany last year was negligible. The statistics, in fact, show “ nil ” against this item. In 1932 Germany bought, 18,000 cwt of New. Zealand, butter, and in 1933 the sales fell to 2joo6cwl. Since then the German people have apparently not tasted one pound of New Zealand butter. ' , { ... •• The .statistics show that Germany’s imports from New Zealand have been far from constant in their quantity and value. The German Government has in the past made block treaties with various in some years' taking quiet a large volume of primary products from New Zealand and in others a very small one. Last year the trade balance was approximately £400,000 in Germany’s favour. ; The principal countries to which New Zealand sold its produce last year were;— £ (N.Z.). United Kingdom •... 45,492,989 United States ... ... 2,831^288 France ... , ... 1,646,153 1 Australia ...' ... .... 1,619,866 Japan ... 1,551,346 Canada ... 1,098,037 Belgium 613,110 Germany ... 264,745 Poland ... 173,159 WINEMAKERS’ PROTEST [Paa United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, October 7. A strong protest by the Auckland vineyard proprietors and winemakers against a reduction of the duty ,on German wines was made this morning. Increased imports of the chief German wines were considered a likely result. It was stated that local producers were unable to compete at the present stage of the development of the industry, though winemaking promises to establish itself as an important industry in the Dominion. The Minister’s statement that local industries are in no way affected by the agreement is considered ridiculous.