COMMERCIAL NEWS

Grey River Argus, 14 December 1937, Page 5

COMMERCIAL NEWS

TRADE MINISTER From Australia NEGOTIATIONS WITH N.Z. [Per Press Association]. WELLINGTON, December 13. Lieut.-Colonel T. W. White, Australian Minister of Trade and Customs, arrived by the Awatea to-day. Interviewed, he said he*was in New Zealand at tne request of the New Zealand Government. There should be few trade problems incapable of adjustment. The present should be the time to bring the British-speak-ing communities closer together for mutual help and support. . Australia had gone to great lengths.m fostering good trade relations with New Zealand, one evidence being the fact there was no primage on New Zealand goods imported into Australia. He was unable to say how long he would stay in New Zealand, as he was in the hands of the New Zealand Government. He expected some consideration to be given to the transTasman air-mail service, and there was no doubt the old question of import of Australian oranges and the export of. New Zealand potatoes would also crop up during the discussions.

Lieut.-Col. White was met on board the Awatea by Cabinet Ministers and others. “Give and Take” Policy MR. SAVAGE'S‘STATEMENT. WELLINGTON, December 13. Commenting on Lt. Colonel White’s visit, Mr. Savage said that in conversation they had agreed' that the representatives of the peoples of both sides of the Tasman did not see enough of each other, and it should be possible to straighten out what; ever trade difficulties’ there were, as well as strengthen relationships between the two countries.’' "Our problems are no dissimilar. We go into this prepared to give and take, and from what I can gather, there is every reason to believe something in the nature of a better balance of trade will result.” Lt. Colonel White meets Mr. Nash and Mr. Sullivan this afternoon, to begin negotiations. MANUFACTURERS’ ENVOY. WELLINGTON, December 13. Mr. L. Withall,' secretary of the Australian Associated,, Chambers of Manufacturers, arrived by the Awatea, to-day. He said he hoped to have the opportunity of studying first-hand the industrial progress in New Zealand. As the result of costs increasing in some countries, and much attention being paid in others to the manufacture of munitions, the opportunity had arisen for big developments in Australia’s export trade. This position was reflected in the increased outward trade in finished products, as between Australia and New Zealand. An example was the increase that had-taken place in the export of steel and iron. WELLINGTON, December 13. Sales reported: Australian Glass £4 13s, Broken Hill £4 4s, Woolworth’s Ltd. Second Pref. £1 8s 103 d, Nemona Is 7id. Sales, noon call: Four per cent, stock, 1946, £lO3 2s 6d; National Insurance 17s 4d, New Zealand Breweries 465, Woolworth’s Ltd. ord. 26s 9d. DUNEDIN, December 13. Sales: Taranaki Oil 7s 6d (2), Dunlop Perdriau Rubber £1 2s 6d (2), North Broken Hill £2 12s 3d. AUCKLAND, December 13. Sales: Colonial Sugar £47 12s 6d, Taranaki Oil 7s 6d, Zinc 47s (2), Radio 19s 6d, Grand Junction 2s 9d, Blenheim Borough Council 1/3/42 £lO3. Sales, 12.15 call: Coles 85s, Broken Hill Proprietary 63s 6d, Mount Lyell 32s 6d (2). CHRISTCHURCH, December 13. Sales: Felt and Textiles 36s 6d, Broken Hill Propty. (New) 35s Bd, Dunlop Rubber 22s Bd, Electro Zinc (ord.) 46s lid, G. J. Coles 84s 6d (3), Woolworths Limited (Sydney Ord.) 26s 9d (cum. div.), Big River Is 113 d (2), Mount Lyell (cum. div.) 32s 3d, Mount Morgan 11s sd, Wilcox Mofflin 11s. LONDON, December 10. The firmer tendency for commodities noticeable last week has been maintained. Metals closed the week steady. Rubber also finished firm. Wool is harder on latest New Zealand and Australian cables, and the outlook seems brighter. Danish butter has been marked up owing to the shortage of supplies. Empire butter, however, is weak. AUCKLAND, December 13.

Referring to the new ships in the Pacific passenger trade, Mt. N. S. Falla, Managing Director of the Union Steamship Company, who returned from Canada by the Niagara, said a draft agreement, embodying the deliberations of the Imperial Conference, was recently placed before the various Governments for approval. When this was forthcoming the construction of the two vessels along the lines of the Imperial Shipping Committee 1936 report, to replace the existing ships, remained to be arranged. WELLINGTON, December 12.

Advice that arrangements had been made for an early investigation into sheep losses was received by a meeting of the New Zealand Wool Publicity Committee, Wellington, from the Director-General of Agriculture (Dr. C. J. Reakes). Toward this research the wool committee agreed at its last meeting to make a grant of £1,500 a year. Consideration is now being given by the committee to other directions in which its available funds should be applied for the benefit of sheep owners, and a report is being prepared by a sub-committee of the committee in association with a sub-committee of the Animal Research Bureau. One particularly troublesome problem discussed by the committee at a recent meeting,- was bidi bidi, and it was arranged that a report upon'the work at present being carried out should be obtained for consideration at the next meeting.