TRADE WITH WEST INDIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22198, 27 February 1934, Page 10

TRADE WITH WEST INDIES

MARKET FOR OUR PRODUCE MINISTER SUGGESTS DELEGATION. (Peb United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, February 26. A trade delegation from New Zealand ihould visit Jamaica and other islands of the West Indies, the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr R. Masters, suggested in an interview to-day. _ The Minister said that Jamaica was not far off the direct shipping route between New Zealand and England. The representative of the Industries and Commerce Department in Canada, Mr J. W. Collins, had been active during the past two years in fostering trade between-New. Zealand and Jamaica, and in that time a fair amount of butter and tinned meat had been sent there. With a view to getting more details and a knowledge of the requirements of Jamaica for New Zealand s produce, the Minister, during his visit to Canada last year, had instructed Mr Collins to make a report on that country. Hie report was now to hand, and he believed that commercial men in New Zealand should take a live interest i in the ex- ' ploitation of trade with the islands of the West Indies visited by Mr Collins, particularly Jamaica. • , It would be advisable, the Minister .ddeVi, to make a similar survey of ,the trade possibilities of Barbadoes, Trinidad, and British Guiana. The import trade of this area was substantial, especially in butter, cheese, condensed milk, and canned meats. It might be well worth while for a trade delegation from New Zealand. to visit these islands and show some initiative by following up the efforts of the Minister and the department in an endeavour to widen the markets of New Zealand overseas. POSSIBILITIES IN INESIA t • (Pee United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, February 26. Mr Masters stated to-day that while he was attending the World Conference he >■ endeavoured to negotiate a reciprocal trade treaty between India and New Zealand. The matter was not yet completed, he said, but he hoped that something would come of it that would be of benefat to the Dominion.