TRADE WITH FRANCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26415, 20 March 1947, Page 8

TRADE WITH FRANCE

PROSPECTS IMPROVING MOTOR VEHICLES EXPENSIVE _ 'ri. ‘ V ’ P.A. AUCKLAND, Mar. 19. Stating that the first few months ht had spent in New Zealand had left him disheartened and discouraged because of the many obstacles which stood in. the way of French exportation. M. P. Burthe Mique, French 1 Trade Commissioneri in New Zealand, speaking at a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce to-day* said he ■ now felt optimistic about the position. In the first place, France had been able to recapture its export trade and in the second place the customs authorities were willing to accede to reasonable demands and the fear which importers had of asking for an import licence for a French product was not justified. M. Mique referred to the experience of importers who often found that prices quoted for French goods were too high. He explained that rather .than file an order they should persist, for there were not twq firms; in France which quoted the same price. Recenty he had heard of genuine silk 'stockings being quoted by one' firm at 19s a pair in New Zealand currency and the following day he had received a sample of better quality stockings which were priced at lls 6d a pair. He expressed the hope that New Zealand, like other Dominions, would advertise its products in France for it would be necessary to find new markets when the food crisis in Great Britain ended.

Asked what the prospects were for obtaining motor vehicles from France, M. Mique said that inquiries made in September had revealed that the price of one type of motor car was £240 or £720 in’ New Zealand. Licences were obtained to import several but, in the meantime, the price in France rose to £320 or £920 landed in New Zealand which was obviously high. An effort had been made to get the Government to reduce the duty on motor vehicles but the success of the representations would depend on the attitude of British firms. There was a possibility that Britain might leave part of her tnarket vacant for the benefit of French exporters.