ROUGH TRIP

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 November 1934, Page 3

ROUGH TRIP

FOR N.Z. MINISTERS. [BY CABLE —I’KESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] (Recd. November 18, 8 a.m.) SYDNEY, November IS. Mr Coates and Mr Masters had a very rough trip, and tvere glad to be in port. They were met at the wharf by Doctor Page, Deputy Prime Minister, Mr F. H. Stewart, Sir Henry Gullett, Mr L. Schmitt and others. The Coates-Masters party, who are staying at the Hotel Australia, expect to remain at Sydney for a week, participating in the Royal festivities, and will attend the complimentary dinner to Mr Latham, former Federal Attorney-General, to-morrow night, then go to Canberra for a trade conference. Interviewed to-night, Mr Masters said that the trade agreement between Australia and New Zealand w r as working satisfactorily from the viewpoint of both countries, but there w’ere certain aspects whereon there should be closer understanding, and also certain matters arising from the New Zealand tariff which needed further consideration by the countries.

Mr Coates supplemented the interview with the following comments: Apart from trade questions.- there are some things of a wider nature wherein the Commonwealth and the Dominion are naturally interested, and wherein the exchange of views of both is desirable and necessary. Australia and New Zealand are friendly rivals in supplying similar commodities to the United kingdom, and a, heart to heart talk on this subject is bound to have good results. Mr Masters emphasised that, in the past ten years the balance of trade was in favour of Australia to between fifteen to twenty million pounds. It was interesting to note that out of 21 classes of goods exported by Australia, New Zealand was the largest purchaser of 14 classes, and despite the fact that the balance would inevitably continue in favour of Australia, the Dominion was very desirous of establishing the best two-way trade possible. He advocated speed and safe development in air travel. “We have some admirable ships crossing the Tasman, but there are still some poor sailors amongst us. Personally, I feel safer travelling by air than by other means.”