TWO-WAY TRADE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22539, 2 October 1936, Page 12

TWO-WAY TRADE

BRITAIN AND DOMINION SCOPE FOR EXPANSION PRODUCE FROM NEW ZEALAND LARGE VOLUME THIS YEAR "We have not yet scratched beneath the surface of the British market," said Sir Hi chard Linfon, a Now Zenlnnder who was for three years Victorian A Rent-General in London, in an address to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon in Milne and Choyee's Reception Hall yesterday. Sir Richard lirgtfd the great importance of the Ottawa Agreement to the Dominions and the necessity for a further development of two-way trade between Great Britain and the Dominions. Mr. A. Gainor Jackson, immediate past president, presided. The Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis, was a guest at the luncheon. "]f we believe in reciprocity," said Sir Richard, after referring to the increased trade which the Ottawa Agi cement had brought to New Zealand, "then we must support a two-way traffic between England and the Dominions. Another thing, we cannot expect the great shipping, people concerned in the Empiro trade to'maintain their traffic and to improve their ships and their speeds, if they are taking only our products to the Home markets and are coming back partially filled or in ballast. The mercantile marine is obviously essential to the peace of the world by keeping open and maintaining the trade routes. It cannot be expected to keep on under a one-way traffic." Room for Improvement

"There is an awakened interest in British and Empire trade," said Sir Richard. "We are the greatest customers England has had, but on rending the statistics one cannot help admitting that there is still much room for improvement, which they at Homo have a right to expect if they continue to buy the whole of our surplus products.

It had been said that the low prices which had ruled during the years of the depression had been injurious to the Dominions, but he felt that the low prices had been a definite advantage, particularly to New Zealand's butter exports. The low price had made butter available to tens of thousands of new people—whole industrial areas had acquired the taste for it. In 1930 the averago consumption of butter per capita a year in England had been 18.71b.; in 1935 it had risen to 25.21b. On the other hand, in 1930 the average consumption of margarine had been 11.81b.; last year it had dropped to 71b. Opportunity at Centenary

Sir Richard suggested that the approaching centenary should Jae seized upon as an opportunity for increasing Great Britain's already keen interest in New Zealand commodities. _He thought that some consideration might profitably bo given to extending invitations to some of the leading London newspaper editors, and some of the most important industrial, financial and commercial men, to visit New Zealand during the celebrations and learn about the Dominion's past progress and its future problems. These men, he thought, would return to England as enthusiastic ambassadors for New Zealand and their interest would bo of great benefit to the country's trade. Support for Sir Richard's contention that New Zealand should make every effort to extend its trade with England on a reciprocal basis was given by Sir. W. Goodrellow, when proposing a vote of thanks. He said that this year New Zealand would be exporting 50 per cent more butter to the "United Kingdom than was Denmark, double the amount of cheese that its most important competitor, Canada, was sending, and 40 per cent of the United Kingdom's pork requirements, while it was also the largest exporter of lamb and mutton to the Home market.