TRADE WITH THE EAST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19216, 4 January 1926, Page 10

TRADE WITH THE EAST.

THE DOMINION AND JAVA. AN ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN. SUPPORT FROM GOVERNMENT. "New Zealand is a wonderful country; the people who inhabit it are wonderful, and I have no hesitation in agreeing with Colonel Bell, the United States Consul in Sydney, who, writing to mo recently said, 'They are tho most advanced community among men.' " Seated in a comfortable chair in the lounge of an hotel at Christchurch, Mr. Hendrik Keller, a native of Holland, voiced this eulogy of New Zealand and New Zealanders to-day. He thinks that New Zealand is one of tho most beautiful countries in the world. "And I have travelled a little," he said smilingly. Mr. Keller, although this is his first visit to New Zealand, has .travelled extensively on the Continent, and prior, to coming to the Dominion visited Paris, Germany, England, Scotland and Australia. In company with Mr. John G. Hummclling, Mr. Keller is visiting this country with a view to interesting the people in tho Now Zealand East Indies Company, an organisation whoso object it is to develop trade between the Dominion and Java. , It was a common belief, he said, that New Zealand was too far away for trade with tho East, but that was not so. Tho peoplo of the East were fast becoming Westernised. They were adopting Western foods. They were bocoming a meateating people. There was no doubt in his mind that such articles as dried fruits, jam, butter, ham, mineral waters, apples, pears, squashes and ale would find a ready market. In the East there were no preferential'tariffs, and all nations were on an equal footing. The Easterner did not care from where his goods came, so long as they were satisfactory to him. On the other hand, such products as coffee, toa, and spice:s might bo exported from Java to New 21ealand, and a comprehensive steamer service introduced. "That is one of tho things that we lack at the present time," said Mr. Keller. "Wo are receiving the support of the Government in the venture," ho said, "the New Zealand Government I mean, and when leaving this country I am to take a number of Government films which will be exhibited throughout the East. Plans are also in hand for tho institution of a tourist bureau at Java. At the present time there is none. It would be a great boon to travellers, and tho proposal seems to have found favour with the Government." Mr. Keller proposes to show tho films, which will be of an industrial nature, at every principal town in the. Far East, and hfi will also give lectures before the Dutch and Chinese Chambers of Commerce.