“THE GOLDEN DOOR”

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11658, 24 October 1923, Page 5

“THE GOLDEN DOOR”

NEAR EASTERN TRADE

AUSTRALIA ALIVE TO ITS POSSIBILITIES. FARMERS MAY ACT. During tho past two or months tho various Chambers of Commerce throughout New Zealand have bei:n considering a proposal to scud a small mission of business men to Java and Singapore, say* a Farmers’ L'nion circular. These business men are to take exhibits of New Zealand produce and manufactures for the purpose of projecting reciprocal trade. It has been suggested that the mission should consist ol 7 not more than three business men, one rep•esentative to have knowledge of primary and agricultural produce, one to repiesent the manufacturing industries' and one versed in the pioblenis of distribution. These men will be appointed by the industries represented, and it is proposed to ask the Government to appoint an officer of the Department,, or Industries and Commerce to precede or accompany the mission The Government uiM also be asked to hear its, chare of the expenses incurred. COMMODITIES WANTED. A study of tlio exports from the Commonwealth of Australia to the Near East shows that the following commodities are in demand*—Primary products: Meat, • butter, cheese, honey, apples. Manufactured goods: Jams, cereal foods, canned fruitjs, preserved and powdered milk, tinned and canned meats. Phosphatic and prepared manures are also in large demand. HOW THEP GREW, Tho following table shows the values of some of the above articles exported from Australia to the near East, ancl tho increase in value made during the last four years: 1917-18 1921-22 Butter £195,844 £461,402 Bacon and Hams £19,820 £74,750 Preserved Meats £4,425 £3,90/ Preserved Milk ... £78,662 £293,661 Oats £560 £27,343 FJour £292,579 £590,092 Tallow £0 £3,5V3 Coal £S,i33 £219,919 Out of 2$ million pounds of tinned butter imported into the near East during 3921, Australia supplied 2 million pounds A MILLION INCREASE. During the year 1917-18 the value of Australian produce exported to the near East was £1,154,865, and in 1921 22 this had risen to £2,341,618. These figures show that the East offers a considerable potential market for New Zealand produce, and, seeing that the Imperial Government is contemplating an expenditure of £11,000,000 on a naval base at Singapore, it surely behoves this country to explore these markets at once with a view to securing its share. ESTIMATED COST. The oost of sending a mission with exhibits has been estimated at between £2500 and £3OOO. and it has been proposed that the mission shall visit tho four chief commercial centres- of the Elnst, viz., Batavia, Surabnva, Samaransr. and Singapore. Whilst in Australia and Java the mission will wait Upon the shipping companies now trading between Australia And the Near : East tc discuss the terms and conditions upon whioh regular sailings can be arranged between at least one New Zealand port and the East. FARMERS MAY ACT. If acting under Government auspices the mission will report to the Government on it* observations, so that its recommendations may be made to all traders and interested parties in the Dominion. The question of sending this mission is still under consideration, and it is hoped that the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union will do something to help to expedite tho sending of the mission at once. else the markets (including provisions for the fleet) will be eecurea by others.