Methods Of Stimulating N.Z. Trade In Dollars

Northern Advocate, 27 September 1949, Page 2

Methods Of Stimulating N.Z. Trade In Dollars

WELLINGTON, Tue. (Sp.).—One of the main matters under consideration at a meeting of the Dominion Council of Federated Fanners was the report of Mr R. G. Buckleton on his recent visit to Canada and the USA. . Mr Buckleton put forward some suggestions for expanding New Zealand’s trade with the dollar countries, and thus providing some of the vitally needed dollars for the sterling area. The main suggestion advanced by Mr Buckleton was that a.dollar trade development company or a dollar trade export corporation should be set up in order to foster and expand New Zealand’s trade, particularly with the United States.

This dollar trade development company, he suggested, should be coinprised of representatives of the Government, of Federated Farmers, of the woollen mills, the importers from dollar sources, of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, and a member of the Aid for Britain National Council. He claimed that the greatest aid that we could give Britain today was to expand our dollar earnings. CAPITAL OF £25,000 He suggested that the company should have, initially, a capital of £25,000 —three-fifths of which would be required to be available in the U.S.A. and/or Canada, and two-fifths in New Zealand. Mr Buckleton said that such a company could take action to obtain goods in New Zealand and promote the sale of them in USA and Canada. He tabulated 33 different items which could be sold in the U.S.A. Suggestions were also put forward as to the means by which this trade could be developed at both the New Zealand and American ends. Mr Buckleton told the council that it was his view, and that of Mr R. B. Tennent, Assistant Director-General of Agriculture, whom the Government had very generously made available to assist in exploring the possibilities for the development of a market for our grass seeds in U.S.A., that it would be possible to build up a market for grass seeds and for certain classes of livestock in the United States, but that this would be a slow and steady process rather than a spectacular development. AGRICULTURAL ATTACHES

good opening in America for New Zealand blood stock. Other matters which were reported upon were the maintaining of the embargo on the importation of horses from U.S.A. Mr Buckleton is strongly of the opinion that because of the real danger of infectious anaemia particulariy, the embargo should be maintained. TOUR OF FARM LEADERS He also urged that New Zealand should favourably consider the possibility of obtaining a-‘dollar loan for the provision of capital equipment for New Zealand. Finally, it was recommended that arrangements should be pushed forward for a tour of farm leaders, agrostologists and extension officers from the U.S.A. to New Zealand. This proposal is regarded favourably in Washington, and it was recommended that this suggestion be implemented as quickly as possible. Recommendations were also made in regard to the fostering and the expansion of the tourist trade from U.S.A. After hearing the report, which was a very comprehensive one, the Dominion Council decided to give it its support, and has instructed that action be taken accordingly.

In consequence of their investigations they were both of the opinion that it would be very much to New Zealand’s advantage that an agricultural attache be appointed to the Washington Legation as soon as possible—such an officer to supervise the establishment and the management of the large-scale trials of New Zealand grass seeds which have been arranged in the U.S.A. and Canada. Both Mr Buckleton and Mr Tennent were sure that there was a real opening for certain of the New Zealand breeds of pedigree stock in the United States, particularly- for Corriedales Romneys and small numbers of Southdown sheep, and for Friesian and Jersey cattle.

They suggested that this matter should be taken up with the respective breed societies in order to encourage the exhibition and sale of New Zealand sheep and cattle in the U.S.A. and Canada. They also suggested that arrangements should be made for publishing a Blood Stock Review for U.S.A., since there appears to be a