TRADE WITH THE EAST

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 20 June 1932, Page 2

TRADE WITH THE EAST

NEW ZEALAND’S PROSPECTS

DIRECT SHIPS NEEDED

DUTCH VICE-CONSUL'S APPEAL

The importance of establishing direct reciprocal trade between New Zealand and the Far East was strongly urged by Captain F. Bauer, Vice-Consul for the Netherlands, in an address to members of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce (reports tbe “Herald’ ) Captain Bauer said all the big maritime countries bad several shipping lines running via Singapore to China and Japan. The Dutcli East Indies and Australia were also connected by many lines with this great international vuute, The ships had plenty of cargo and in normal times made good profits. To show the possibilities of trade, it should bo enough to say that about 5,000,000 people in Java ate butter and cheese, about 3,000,000 ate ham, and about 20,000,000 used condensed and powdered milk. The East required currants, fats, fibres, flour, fruit, fresh and canned jams, grain, gums, hair, hides, hams, meat (chilled and frozen), tinned meats, ore and metal, timber, wines, wool and other lines In return it could sell sugar, tea, coffee, cocoa, tapioca, rubber, spices and kapok, none of which could be produced in New Zealand. The reason why New Zealand had never traded with the Far East was because she had no direct communication. Cargo for Java, Singapore, or Rangoon had to be transhipped at Sydney at great expense and delay. The same applied to passenger traffic. He, could say confidently that the Dutch were keen to do business, but there, must be give-and-take. Direct communication with Java or Singapore gave possibilities of transhipment by other lines to East Africa and many other destinations. It would also enable passengers to travel from New Zealand to London by sea and air in 24 days. In his opinion, trade could best be promoted by a line of passenger and cargo ships under the British and Dutch flags, sailing alternately, having the same tariff, and calling at Dutch'and British ports, via Noumea. New Zear land should establish a “New Zealand House” and a trade commissioner at Singapore, the great commercial centre and key to the Far East. There should be branch agencies in Java, British India, China and Siam, in charge of farseeing and keen business men. In spite of distance, New Zealand at present relied almost wholly on markets in Britain for the disposal of her primary produce, but how long was this to last? Africa was already shipping wool, meat, and dairy produce to England, and grain and fruit were being grown there in increasing quantities. The Argentine, where £400,000,000 or £500,000,000 of British capital was invested, was a competitor in the frozen meat industry. In all seriousness, would it not be wise to keep in view the importance of seeking new markets nearer home ? Captain Bauer explained that he did riot speak as a representative of any shipping line, but as Dutch Vice-Consul, in which capacity lie was entitled to do all lie could for the encouragement of trade.