NEW MARKETS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 175, 9 July 1932, Page 8

NEW MARKETS

TRADE WITH THE EAST ENCOURAGING EXPANSION. GOVERNMENT S INVESTIGATIONS. Wellington, July 8. The Hon. R. Masters, Minister of Industries and Commerce, in a statement tff-day, stated that for some considerable time past his department has been actively engaged in trying to develop the export trade with the East. “Inquiries arc constantly being received.’’ said the Minister, “both by myself and by my department, from firms in the East, particularly the Dutch East Indies and Malaya, who are desirous of getting in touch with exporters of various New Zealand products with a view to opening up trade relations. Apart from inquiries, however, which are becoming an increasingly important feature of the work of my department, there are other aspects of the question which have been dealt, with in recent months and to which it is considered some publicity should now be given. SHIPPING FACILITIES. “Representations have been made recently by my department to the agents of the Osaka Shosen Kaisha with a view to securing direct shipment from New Zealand to China and Hong Kong. As a result their principals have advised me that they are prepared to consider the question of direct, calls nt Shanghai or Hong Kong, provided sufficient cargo is forthcoming. This

concession is very encouraging and should induce exporters in New Zealand to make every effort to bring about this extension of our shipping facilities. Vessels belonging to tinabove line are available to carry any quantities of general cargo and it is hoped that a certain proportion of refrigerated space will also be available to New Zealand exporters in future.

“Representations have also been made to tho Union Co. in regard to shipment to the Dutch East Indies, Malaya and India, and 1 am advised that this company is definitely prepared to accept any quantities of general cargo offering in New Zealand for shipment to Calcutta, Singapore and Sarnarang by tho Narbada. This vessel makes three round trips a year between New Zealand and the East. She loads at Calcutta every four months, leaving there at the beginning of April, and December, and would discharge cargo from New Zealand at Singapore and Samarang on her return voyage from Calcutta. ’J.he Narbada has limited accommodation for the carriage of Cargo. In the freezer or cooler she has one chamber with a capacity of about 130 tons measurement and a small one of about 10 tons measurement, and cither of these chambers could be used for freezer or cooler cargo. export of fruit. “In the past New Zealand has not been able to ship fruit (apples and pears) to the Dutch East Indies, British Malaya, India, Ceylon or other parts of the East owing to the existence of certain quarantine regulations in the Commonwealth which prevented or hindered the transhipment of such fruit at Sydney. As a result of representations which have recently been made to the Commonwealth authorities I am advised that there will now be no restrictions on the transhipment at Sydney of any of our fruit forwarded in transit to places outside Australia. So far as fruit is concerned, there is now as a result of these efforts no obstacle in the way of export from New Zealand to the East via Sydney. Quarantine certificates are required under the Commonwealth Department of Markets, and the Quarantine Department wishes to help in every way possible. “Regulations arc in existence in Japan which prevent the export of fruit to that country and it is understood that such regulations also apply to the transhipment of our fruit at a Japanese port for China. The Japanese Consul-General in Sydney has been communicated with in regard to this matter and he is ascertaining from his Government the exact position in regard to transhipment for China. Tho advisability of tho New Zealand Government approaching the Japanese Government with a view to the removal of any disabilities so far as transhipment at Japanese ports is concerned is now under consideration. CO-OPERATION OF EXPORTERS. “It is proposed to make certain inquiries in connection with the prospects of marketing products in the East from the commercial office attached to the British Consulates in Hong Kong and Shanghai, and with that object in ' view chambers of commerce, manufacturers’ associations and various persons and firms throughout the Dominion have been asked to inform me of any matters in relation to markets in these parts of the world about which they desire information, so that full details and particulars may ho obtain cd from the above mentioned commercial officers. 1 “The British Chamber of Common-;- ! nt Hong Kong is arranging to hold an ■ exhibition of Australian products next November. It is probable the Govcrn-

ment of New Zealand would be able to arrange with the British Chamber of Commerce at Hong Kong for the exhibition to include New Zealand products. Before such arrangements could be made, however, it is necessary to know the extent to which exporters and manufacturers would desire to take advantage of this opportunity to display their .products in the East. Chambers of commerce, manufacturers’ associations and persons and firms likely to be interested have been communicated with for the purpose of ascertaining this information, and if sufficient support is forthcoming the Government will make every endeavour to arrange for a suitable exhibition to be staged. No expense can be borne by the Government in this connection. I sincerely hope our produce boards, trade organisations and exporters generally iliroughout the Dominion will co-oper-ate in these efforts as far as is reason ably possible.”