TRADE COMMISSIONER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22714, 29 October 1935, Page 12

TRADE COMMISSIONER

VISIT TO MANCHESTER (From Oxjb Own Correspondent). -.:■'. ' (By Air Mail) '""■".'-. LONDON, October 5. Mr R, Boulter, H.M. Trade Commissioner in New Zealand, has been in Manchester this week, interviewing business men who have an interest in New Zealand trade. He told the public, through the Manchester Guardian, that the competition of Japan is not so keen in the Ncfl- Zealand market as in other markets of the world. It was, perhaps, more notable in artificial silk piece goods than in cotton, but he agreed that it was a not unimportant factor to be taken into account. "I think it ought to be borne in mind, however," he added, " that on the whole the preference given to British goods by the New Zealand tariff is substantial. Cotton piece goods are, broadly speaking, admitted free of Customs duty, but pay a primage of 3 per cent. Similar goods from foreign sources bear s 15 per cent. Customs duty, plus a surtax, which brings the total to 18| per cent. That is not sufficient in all cases to meet the lower prices of Japanese .joods. There is a sentimental preference for Lancashire cloths, and what I would call fashion goods are considered to be far ahead of those from Japan in point of quality and design. "Manchester trading interests are well represented in .New Zealand, and United Kingdom manufacturers find the New Zealand market a particularly good one. It is what is called a 'clean' market. The trading risks are extremely small; besides there are virtually no restrictions in the shape of quotas and exchange limitations."