MARKED DEVELOPMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23857, 11 July 1939, Page 6

MARKED DEVELOPMENT

MANUFACTURING IN AUSTRALIA DEFENCE AIDS EXPANSION <Pkb United Phess Associations AUCKLAND, July 10. A marked development in manufacturing in Australia during the past two years has been noticed by Mr H. L. Priestman, who, until his transfer to Japan, was assistant Canadian Trade Commissioner at Sydney. He has been promoted to Trade Commissioner at Kobe, and was a through passenger in the Monowai, accompanied by his wife and family. He will visit Canada before proceeding to Japan. Mr Priestman said that Australia was producing more and more commodities of a wider range and excellent quality. Canada was exporting to Australia fewer fully-manufac-tured goods and more raw materials. That was particularly noticeable in the supply of softwood timber, ores, and non-metallic minerals such as asbestos. Defence activity was a factor in Australia's industrial expansion, but only partly so. Despite Canada's increased export of raw material, there was a more varied range of trade between the two countries. Mr Priestman said he was looking forward to his new duties in Kobe, all the more because the commercial secretary of the Canadian Legation in Tokio was Mr C. M. Croft, formerly Trade Commissioner at Auckland, with whom he had worked for many years. Mr Priestman was entertained at luncheon by the Auckland Club as a guest of his former colleagues.