TRADE WITH RUSSIA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19846, 20 July 1926, Page 10

TRADE WITH RUSSIA.

SOUTH AFRICAN MISSION. (FfcOM Oub Own Cobeespondent.) PIETERMARITZBURG, May 27. The mission to Moscow of I. W. Schiesinger. the Johannesburg financier, is arousing a considerable amount of-inteerst in the Union. The object of his mission is to discuss trade exchange possibilities as between South Africa, Russia, and elsewhere. The Moscow visit is considered to be necessary because it is understood that the Soviet Government is keeping a close watch on foreign trade, and that all who desire to trade with Russia, whether to import into the country or to handle Russian exports, must do so through the Soviet. Nevertheless, as Russia is dealing mainly in raw materials, and not on manufactured products, it is clear that any trade arrangement* would not involve the dumping of cheap manufactured products on these shores. Russia has a record harvest to handle, and is also dealing in exports in timber, jute, bristles, and petroleum; therefore the opportunities for Russian raw exports to South Africa would have to be limited; while, on the other hand, Russia has not the means at the moment to pay for an extensive importation of foreign goods, apart, of course, from the agricultural and factory machinery which her Government is now importing from America.