TRADE WITH FIJI

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23086, 11 July 1938, Page 11

TRADE WITH FIJI

DELEGATION PROPOSAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE A suggestion that the Auckland Chamber of Commerce should send a small trade delegation to Fiji to study trade conditions and requirements has been received by the chamber from Fiji. A letter from the Suva chamber stated that it would not be generally held in Fiji that any action taken by the New Zealand Government in connection with the importation of the staple products of Fiji had prejudiced trade between the two countries. Attention to a trade decline between New Zealand and Fiji was drawn some time ago by the Auckland chamber. }he decline was attributed to various factors, among them the establishment of various local industries in Fiji, the fact that New Zealand was unable to compete with Australia in the supply of certain goods, rising internal costs of production in New Zealand, the removal in 10M2 of the preferential tariff treatment which Fiji gave the Dominion in 1931, and certain shipping difficulties. Although there was at present in Fiji a larger sale of Australian goods than of New Zealand products, it was stated that there was a feeling that as tlie Dominion took the bulk of Fijian fruit, she should he given preference. Mention was also made of the importation of beer into Fiji, and of tlif fact that New Zealand beer, although liked, was considered too heavy for the climatic conditions when compared with the lighter Australian beers.