TRADE WITH AUSTRALIA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21934, 18 October 1934, Page 8

TRADE WITH AUSTRALIA

"ALL IN ONE DIRECTION* BUSINESS MEN'S DISCUSSION [BY TELEGRAPH OWX COBBESPONDEVri WELLINGTON, Wednesday i "Trade is all in one direction; Australia is sending us about three times as much as we are sending them," said Mr. J. T. Martin at a meeting of tie executive of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. The subject arose when the question of sending Chamber, of Commerce representatives to the Melbourne Centenary celebrations was discussed. Members advocated that the representatives should be instructed to keep the question of trade reciprocity in view. ' V' ; .- ■ ' : ; "Australia has a trade commissioner and an assistant in New Zealand, with, the object of doing their very best, and quite rightly, to press for further trade for Australia," said Mr. Martin. "We, on the other hand, are getting ver? little reciprocity from Australia.?' Recently he had noticed that potatoes were selling in Sydney for £IS a ton. N ew Zealand had "got potatoes down ' to £3 or £4 a ton and could find no market for them. "Australian statesmen make arrangements for reciprocal trade Hinder certain conditions," he continued. "Their Agricultural Department imposes restrictions which they carrv out so rigorously that it is almost impossible for our potatoes to be landed in conformity with their regulations. Mr. Stronach Paterson said the same sort of thing had happened in the United States. Three years ago, when the dairy produce trade had been opened- with America, Nevf Zealand overcame the tariff and all other difficulties except those made by the public analyst. He found an infinitesimal fraction of a grain of boric acid in New Zealand butter and it w;as shut out. " i think we have some bigger share in Australian markets," he added. "The Government is watching this and I do nbt think a resolution and a deputation can help things." said the president, Mr. D. J. McGowan. Mr. Martin: A representative of the New Zealand commercial community can put our viewpoint before Australia at the Centenary celebrations. Mr. Paterson said it would not be too late to have the question considered at the conference of the Associated Chambers at the beginning of next month.