TRADE WITH AMERICA

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 46, 23 January 1939, Page 8

TRADE WITH AMERICA

PROSPECTS FOR FUTURE. TREATY ADVOCATED. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Jan. 23. The expediency of New Zealand endeavouring to arrange a trade treaty with the United States at the earliest possible moment was emphasised by Mr J. W. Collins, the former New Zealand Trade and 'Tourist Commissioner to Canada and the United States, who returned to-day. Before his appointment eight years ago, Mr Collins was head of the Department of Industries and Commerce for nearly ten years. Mr Collins and his wife intend to settle permanently in New Zealand. After referring to the growth of trade between New Zealand and Canada, Mr Collins said the 1939 returns would probably show a sharp decline due to domestic products, particularly wheat, being at very low values, thus affecting the general purchasing power, but prospects indicated that the slump would he of a temporary nature, as well-informed opinion predicted that Canada was facing one of the “golden eras” of business for the next lew years, regardless of affairs abroad. New Zealand’s trade relations with America were equally satisfactory, despite temporary recessions. Commenting on the fact that the United Kingdom and Canada had entered into trade agreements with the United States, Mr Collins expressed the sincere hope that New Zealand would without undue delay seek alike agreement. Canada had been granted reductions on 129 items, largely in agricultural products. Hon. \V. Nash had visited Washingtoli in 1937, and the able case put forward tor closer relations had now been examined by the State Department at Washington, and it was now expedient that the matter should be further explored and. if possible, a treaty consummated.

The tourist traffic outlook was also most encouraging, and it was expected that the summer season should prove a record so far as visits from Canada and the United States to New Zealand were concerned.

Since leaving Toronto last June Mr Collins has been in Europe, the Far East, and Australia.