BOON TO AUSTRALIA

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 214, 24 August 1931, Page 9

BOON TO AUSTRALIA

NEW TRADE TREATY. GOODWILL SHIPS. Sydney, August 13. Australian exporters are displaying the greatest possible enthusiasm over tho decision to dispatch to Canada at the end of this month a goodwill ship, the Canadian Constructor. When the vessel sails from Melbourne it will contain the most important cargo ever taken from tho Commonwealth across the Pacific, and will be an indication of the immense value to Australia of the new trade treaty. The consignments will include more than £200,000 worth of canned fruit, which, according to experts, will be of the best quality that the world can produce. Special care is being taken to land in good condition trial shipments of canned meat, wine, oranges, and other goods. From Queensland there will bo a trial shipment of 100 tons of peanuts. Every week produces additional evidence of the good effects that are likely to follow what is easily the most favourable trade treaty ever signed on behalf of Australia. Exporters of a striking variety of lines are delighted with tho prospects, and many inquiries are made each day nt the Department of markets regarding effect of the treaty.

IMPORTANCE OF MARKET. An idea of the importance of the treaty is given in a recently prepared table which shows that the Australian preference will effect a trade worth millions of pounds, which Australia at present shares in only a small way with several powerful competitors. At present the most important item is dried vine fruits, for, under the now conditions, it is expected that Australia will capture the whole of the market from the United States and Greece. The trade in raisins alone is worth nearly £330,000. Although no eggs will be carried on the goodwill ship, producers are preparing to introduce' a huge increase in eggs in next season's exports. The greatest competitor in eggs is U.S.A., which collects more than £228,000 from Canada every year. China last year was paid £34,000 for eggs sent to Canada. Under the new treaty, Australia has a preference of 5d a doze over U.S.A, for eggs in shell. Am tralia also has a 20 per cent, advant age over her rivals, the Argentine a> U.S.A., as regards' canned meat, ai as the Argentine last year sent to 1 Dominion meats valued at £148,00 Australia should reap a valuable harvest. According to advice received th week Canada is preparing to relo the Canadian Constructor, and • rangements are being made to exhi. bit Canadian goods in most of the main centres in Australia. Tho Canadian Minister for Trade and Commerce (Mr. H. H. Stevens) is taking a personal interest in the selection of Canadian goods. He has also promised that samples of Australian goods .will be exhibited in Montreal, and, in fact, in all the big Canadian cities.