AUSTRALIA-N.Z. TRADE ACCORD PROSPECTS

Northern Advocate, 14 December 1937, Page 8

AUSTRALIA-N.Z. TRADE ACCORD PROSPECTS

[Special To “Northern Advocate ”l WELLINGTON. This Day.

As a result of the visit to the Dominion of the Australian Minister of Trade and Customs, the Hon. T. W. White, who arrived at Wellington from Sydney yesterday by the Awatea. a new trade agreement between Australia and New Zealand is expected to bo concluded.

Accoi’ding to a statement made by Mr W. Nash recently, opportunity is to be taken during Mr White’s visit to discuss every aspect of trade relations between the Dominion and the Commonwealth and the manufacturing interests of the two countries and. in addition, the question of Pacific shipping and the trans-Tasman air service. Mr White said yesterday that lie had come to New Zealand at the request of the Now Zealand Government to discuss trade problems between New Zealand and Australia. “That makes it a business trip and one of friendship as well.” he continued. “We are the same people and there should be few trade problems not capable of adjustment. “From time to time we have gone to great lengths to try to adjust some of our difficulties, but, naturally, you cannot balance trade between countries in ilxo same way as you can between the businesses of individuals. “As New Zealand and Australia have been able to co-operate most successfully on more important occasions, during, in fact, a period of world crisis, it should be possible to adjust lesser differences of trade,” he said.

“Moreover, a time of troubles such as the world is facing at the moment, should bo the time to bring the Eng-lish-speaking communities clorser together for mutual help and support." Same People, Same Ideals.

Australia had gone to great lengths in fostering good trade relations with New Zealand, said Mr White, one evidence of which was that there was no primage on New Zealand goods imported into Australia. That was something no other country enjoys. Agreement between the two countries was a sincere effort to make possible the great volume of business that should be the objective.

“We are the same people with the same ideals and the same destiny” he added, “and it is to our mutual advantage to build up the greatest amount of trade possible for the benefit of the people of the two Dominions.” In reply to a question, Mr White said he was unable to say how long he would be in New Zealand. He was in the hands of the New Zealand Government. He expected some consideration would be given to the trail— Tasman air mail service, and be had no doubt also that the old question

of the importation of Australian oranges and the export of New Zealand potatoes would also crop up during the discussion. Prepared To Give And Take. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, said that, in conversation, they had agreed that the representatives of the people of both sides of the Tasman did not see enough of each other, and it should he possible to straighten out whatever trade difficulties there were, as well as to strengthen relationships between the two countries. Their problems were not dissimilar. Mr Savage said that they were prepared to give and take and from what he could gather there was every reason to believe that something in the nature of a better balance of trade would result.

(Trade Talks Start.—Page 11.)