EASTERN TRADE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25347, 31 October 1945, Page 5

EASTERN TRADE

CHANCE FOR DOMINION

SALESMANSHIP ESSENTIAL THE MALAYAN CHINESE 'By W. E. Parrott, New Zeai.and Herald • Special Correspondent) SINGAPORE, Oct. 16 Good trading opportunities for New Zealand exist in south-east Asia and the Indies, but they are not being offered on a silver platter. Nor can they he won merely by providing commodities of satisfactory price and quality, for there are several other important factors. This is the view expressed in Singapore, which, because of its tremetulous importing and distributing trade, can he taken to reflect opinion oxer a wide region. New Zealand has the chance of greatly expanding her exports of butter, cheese, meat, dried and processed milk products and many other types of food packed in tins and cartons. She may also have the opportunity of selling certain manufactures such as footwear and leather goods. But her representatives must come to the Mast and use salesmanship, for, as the world returns to normal trading, she will have many competitors, and possibly none greater than Australia. She must study Eastern conditions and he prepared to send what is wanted here and not what she thinks the East should have. Eastern Living Standards The Dominion must get in early and establish her name if she wishes to share fully in the vast markets that must gradually open as the East becomes more accustomed to the products of the Western world and as the standard of living of uncounted millions rises. As in the case of every other exporting nation, it is in New Zealand's interests and in the interests of the whole world to push up Eastern living standards rapidly, for chaos can be the only alternative. The standards must be raised to increase the production costs of. Eastern manufactures and thus avoid the possibility of Oriental countries having to dump, or attempt to dump, large quantities of cheaplyproduced commodities on the world markets. No one here would dream of condoning what Japan has done, but they can understand her action in attempting to avoid economic disaster by going to war after the world had raised barriers against her surplus products.

From Xew Zealand's point of view, and from that of Australia and several other countries, a sincere attempt must be made to win Eastern goodwill, particularly that of the Chinese and, at the moment, especially that of the Chinese of the Straits Settlements and Malaya. In the huge city of Singapore three-quarters of the population are Chinese and they control a great proportion of the trade. They are also extremely active 011 the Malaya mainland. where they number one-third of the population. Political Stipulations

The Chinese .Malayans are of proud stock, they are fully conscious of their capabilities, and thev admit 110 inferiority to the Europeans. Furthermore, tlic.v know, and the European community here gladly admits, that they have played their part nobly in the war. They accordingly resent the spirit, if not the purpose, of political instruments directed against them by various countries. They cite the white Australia policy as a case in point. There is 110 abjection on their part to any country controlling immigration by quota, but the Chinese strongly object to discrimination against them, particularly, as a leading banker said in an interview today, when they are regarded as coming from a lower stratum than olive-skinned peoples of the Mediterranean, who are accepted as Europeans and as superior whites. It is the spirit of the thing that hurts them. Therefore the Malayan Chinese claim that if economic goodwill is to he won by various countries, those countries must amend their political attitude. If that is done, the Chinese are prepared to offer all the goodwill in the world; if it is not. they are content to do their business, in the main, elsewhere. There is another objective that the Malayan Chinese seek. They point out that they are members of a British community and that the majority are permanently domieil"d there, as distinct from those who merely come to the country to make a fortune and re turn to China. If there is to be Empire preference, they ask that it be equally applied to the country which they have assisted greatly in developing and which thev now call home.

SLOW EXPLOITATION SOUTH AFRICAN MARKET GREAT BRITAIN LAGGING CAPETOWN, Sept. 9 The sudden lifting of most of the wartime restrictions on imports together with forecasts of an early improvement in the shipping position open up the whole question of the future of South African trade. Arrangements have been made for close co-operation between certain British and South African industrialists. hut there is an impression here that. British efforts ma.v be handicapped by a slow start For four years American industrialists have been investigating trade prospects, and there is little doubt that they are ready to take full advantage of the new situation. Britain, on the oilier hand, appears to be lagging behind, in spite of the fact that South Africa is in favour of obtaining British goods wherever possible. Even travel between Britain and the Union is still slow and difficult and mails are irregular. There is not the contact which is so vital in present circumstances. Not only America but countries like Australia are getting in ahead of the Mother Country. There are Australian plans for trade developments running into millions of pounds. The next few months are extremely important in the whole trade outlook of South Africa, and Britain should realise this now. NO TELEVISION YET HANDICAPS ON 8.8.C. AUTHORITY AWAITED Hopes of a resumption of 8.8.C. television broadcasts based on reports that they would ho possible a few months after the end of hostilities in Europe appear to have been groundless. There are still no signs of any Government. action in the near future, stated the London-Sunday Times some weeks ago, and without the Government's acceptance of the report of the Hanke.v Committee on television it is impossible for the 8.8.C. to devote any labour or finance to preparations for reopening. Except for a few tests of the main studio apparatus, no steps have yet been taken to prepare for transmissions. With a limited staff the 8.8.C. cannot direct engineers, producers, or even scene shifters to a project that has no official approval. Many of the necessary experts are employed elsewhere or are iu the Services. When the Hanke.v report is accepted ii may hp possible to obtain the necessary trained labour by seconding engineers and producers to ihe 8.8.C. pending demobilisation in their own groups. Financial, difficulties could doubtless be obviated by a grant from technical development resources.