TRADE WITH GERMANY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 198, 22 July 1937, Page 2

TRADE WITH GERMANY.

RECENT DECLINE REGRETTED. HOPE FOR AGREEMENT. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON. July 21. “It is regrettable to note that trade between New Zealand and Germany has suffered a considerable decline during the past few years,” declared the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Hon. D. G. Sullivan) speaking at the Chamber of Commerce luncheon to Dr. Hans Luther; a former Chancellor of Germany, to-day. The Minister quoted figures showing that New Zealand exports last year to Germany were only a little over one-fifth of what thev had been in 1929. >

“Our'imports from Germany have not shown the same rate of fluctuations as have our exports to Germany, and since 1933 New Zealand’s imports of German goods, have shown an expanding tendency,” he said. “We in New Zealand have been very interested in the measures adopted by the German Government to build up her economic structure on a new basis, although it must be confessed that her efforts to become self-supporting in regard to various commodities liave caused ns some apprehension. “For example, our wool-growers have not been particularly delighted at the steps taken to develop synthetic wool, silk and cotton Our industries have already suffered as a result of the development, of the rayon industry, and it behoves us to watch’all developments which may cause the demands for our wool to diminish to an appreciable extent in future,” Air Sullivan continued. “The New Zealand Government is committed to a policy to protect local manufacturers, and it will have to watch very carefully the trend of trade as it affects the local producers. On the other hand, the German Government has a duty to perform by its own manufacturers and producers, and 1 have no doubt Die flow of goods into Germany from New Zealand and other countries will be subject to a careful examination in order to gauge the offeet of such importations on the German factories. “If a trade agreement is concluded between New Zealand and Germany as a result of the recent visit of Mr W. Nash. New Zealand Finance Min-, ister, to Berlin, it will be an appreciable step forward and will he a contribution towards developing peace between our countries,” concluded the Alinister.