TRADE WITH THE EAST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20989, 28 September 1931, Page 9

TRADE WITH THE EAST.

EFFORT!} TO STIMULATE. large adverse balance. Japanese shipping service. Efforts to «eei, re a greater export trade 0 ie utcli East Indies and Singapore, and an increase in patronage of the new cargo shipping service to Japan, are reviewed in the annual report of the Department of Industries and Commerce. On May 23," says the report, "the cw Zealand trade and tourist commissioner in Australia left Sydney for the utcli East Indies and Singapore to ascertain on behalf of the Government the prospects of marketing the products of New Zealand in the East, and also the prospects of developing tourist traffic between thoso countries and New Zealand. There should be 110 insurmountable obstacle to a development of these markets for such of our products as are required in those territories. The absence of a direct steamer service is a decided disadvantage, but this is a handicap that would probably be removed if the volume of our trade with those portions of thei East could be developed to sufficiently large dimensions to warrant the inauguration; of improved, regular shipping facilities." Imports and Exports. Ihe value of New Zealand's imports from those countries each year, says the report, exceeds by a large margin the value of the Dominion's exports to those markets. In 1929 and 1930, the values of exports from New Zealand to the Dutch East Indies; wero £19,191 and £13,029 respectively, while the values of imports from that source in the same years were £1,152,705 and £811,372. Butter was the principal item exported in each year, this being valued at £BBOB in 1929 and £6530 in 1930. Exports to the Straits Settlements iD 1929 and 1930 were valued at £26,556 and £20,360 respectively. In the same periods the imports from that source totalled £103,782 and £57,996. In this case again butter was the principal item exported, the values, being £18,035 in 1929 and £16,778 in 1930. Dried, preserved and condensed milk and cream were the items next in importance, the values of these commodities being £5707 in 1929 and £2114 in 1930. Dairy Produce and Fruit. "It is obvious," says the report, "that a balance of trade more favourable to New Zealand than at present is highly desirable. Among the commodities which it is hoped to market in increasing quantities in the East are butter, casein, dried and preserved and condensed milk, cheese, honey and fruit. "Our present sales of such products to the East are comparatively insignificant, but it is hoped that by carefully ascertaining market requirements, and by paying strict attention to such matters as packing, branding and advertising appropriate to the East, New Zealand may be able to find in that part of the world an increasingly valuable outlet for her principal exportable products." In addition to inquiring into trade matters, the New Zealand representative I would report upon the prospects of de- [ veloping the tourist traffic from the Dutch I East Indies and the Malay States to New Zealand. The matter of appointing suitable agents in the various centres of population would receive consideration, as well as the types of publicity material best suited to the characteristics of the countries and the people. Cargoes for Japan. With regard to shipping facilities for the Japanese trade, the report states that on November 1, 1930, the Osaka Shosen Kaisha Shipping Company inaugurated a monthly service of cargo vessels between New Zealand and Japan, via Australian ports. This was an extension of the company's Australian service. The vessels were up-to-date motor-ships of 6724 tons and 16 knots speed, and provided a cheaper freight, on both inward and outward cargo, than was obtainable previously, when all New Zealand cargo had to be transhipped at either Sydney or Melbourne. Up to April 2, 1931, six sailings, from Auckland and Wellington, had been made, and the outward cargo lifted showed an increase, as follows: —November, 74 tons; December, 134; January, 303; February, 1. 539; February 27, 371; April, 771. "The cargo lifted," says the report, "comprised wool, tallow, casein, hides, pelts, kauri gum, and small lines of butter and canned milk. It is hoped that the new service, which provides facilities of considerable value to exporters to the East, will receive sufficient support to justify its continuance."