TRADE WITH THE EAST

Opunake Times, 6 October 1931, Page 3

TRADE WITH THE EAST

RECIPROCAL TRADING. EXTENSION OF N.Z. BUSINESS: In a recent issue of the N.Z. Financial Times Anglo-Eascerner writes as follows: To ensure success in the venture of extending Dominion trade in the East, it is essential to tap the greatest number of markets consistent with an economic and speedy shipping service. Secondary ports must therefore 1 be omitted, and extensive distribution effected through the great commercial centres. Provided that the expense and delay of including Australian ports is avoided, Norfolk Island might be considered as a. first port of call. The islanders are appealing for direct service with the Dominion,and although an exclusive line has not proved a paying- proposition, inclusion in the Eastern route might well be profitjlfllc and meet the requirements of the island. From there, too, some distribution would percolate to the Solomons, New Caledonia and other Pacific islands.

Batavia should be made to serve the Dutch East Indies, excluding Sumatra, better reached through Singapore and Penang, while Siam, Borneo and parts of Burma also automatically come within the sphere of activity attributed to the Straits. French Indo-China or Annum provides at least as good a. field as Java for trade exploitation, but it is singular that this market is little considered. The French ...seem to bo conceded more credit than the Dutch in the caring and catering for their Eastern territory. Allowances must ho made for similar conditions and for French trade preference, but the opportunities for placing Dominion meat and f r.uit should he equally good, and for, butter and dairy products very much better, than the D.E.I. Sargon, the capital, is within easy roach of Singapore, and a natural port of call on the way co China. There are approximately 25,000 Europeans, mostly French, including a military establishment, from which direct contacts should bo sought as from the forces of the Straits Settlements. The French Government have also an excellent hill station with first-class hotels, clubs, etc., whore the reputation of the French cuisino calls for only the very highest quality produce. Sargon, known as lie P.>ri c ' of the East, ranks'among French ports with Bordeaux in importance. New Zealanders who have visited the gimit Mediterranean sea'poi(t am their European jonrneyings'-rU'nij, appreciate the significance of this" If the New Zealand ship tacks direct to Hongkong from Sargon, within three days she will find herself again in Britain Overseas. Much that .has been said about Singapore applies' equally to Hongkong; in fact, there is a similarity about these two great ports, established on tiny islets, served by (ho same shipping lines, and with their Government Houses as centres both of legislative and social activity. Both have large (loiiting populations composed of globe-trotters and the upcountry residents who congregate for all festivities. Both have sailors, soldiets, civil servants and merchants, who live at the high standard required by British prestige in the East. The marketing conditions are also alike, Chinese “cookies’’ purchasing from Chinese shopkeepers for discriminating Britishers. Intercourse is in pigeon English, less dignified but easier for purposes of a trade enquiry than the foreign languages of Batavia, Singapore and Sargon. Shanghai, one of the greatest cities of the East, would make a fitting last port of call. England, the Continent and America have nothing to teach Shanghai in the way of luxury and gaiety, and merchandise or produce which can he sold in competition there will have established its claim to recognition anywhere. This port is the half-way house of the world, the link between shipping of both hemispheres, terminus of lines going East through Suez and West from Canada and the U.S.A. The opportunities for provisioning ships alone should make an appeal, while New Zealanders can reclaim their cherished vision of tempting teeming millions—irresistible attracton to people of sparsely populated lands. Thifj brings us naturally to a consideration of Japan—a great human hive of activity, where the people are really countless—but it is doubtful if it would he a payable proposition to include Japan in any proposed itinerary, quite part from unduly protracting the shipping service. The Japan-

esc companies are already sending direct flipping to New Zealand, and after tlic unfortunate attitude* of the Wellington water-side workers, it would be difficult to claim reciprocal trading. Lot New Zealanders be thankful for every bale of wool purchased by Japan and refrain from disturbing present conditions. Japnn may Ik; used to further the argument in favour of giving preference to Brit*' ain Overseas, for the Dominion would not then have to accept in exchange foreign-made goods which would under sell her home products and Hood her markets with mass production manufacturers. The British Foreign Secretary has issued a timely warning to European nations. Mr. Henderson told them they had shut their eyes to the fact thalt /international trade must take the form of barter. New Zealanders, too, must bear this in mind, and her representative who has just sailed for Java should have been empowered to make concessions to the D.E.I. jf ho is ex])ected to procure trade openings lor the Dominion. However, the despatch of a representative at all is a step in iln> right direction, and, if his sco|h‘ for enquiries is not wide enough or bis powers insufficient, “il is never too late to mend.” But, if we concede that it pays to advertise and that the guiding principle in a time of depression is to double publicity, a far bigger scheme than the despatch of one representative will 1»e favoured.

Groat Britain spends handsomely on trade exhibitions. England must find such advertising productive, for she persists. Now Zealand, while obviously unable to attempt exhibitions upon the European scale, might still profit by the example.

Few countries have more to advertise or more need for advertising. Isolation is among the chief of Now Zealand’s commercial problems, and if trade will not come to New Zealand, she must go out and got it—“the mountain must gij to Mahomet.’’ The ideaj campaign for an extension of New- Zealand trade would be the equipment of a trade vessel to visit prospective markets. New Zealand produce would be carried and New Zealand publicity effected. The command should be given to an ex-naval officer of sufficiently high rank to receive and entertain Colonial Governors, High Commissioners, commanding officers, foreign consuls and native rulers. Representatives of the cattle and dairying industries should be sent and empowered to negotiate by their respective organisations. The Government should be represented by the Publicity and Tourist Department and preferably by a New Zealander with overseas tropical experience (there are New Zealanders in the Malayan Civil Service).

Last, and by no means least, an English-speaking Chinaman should be included; many of the great towkays of the Straits have educated their sons at English universities, and no Britisher, no matter his qualifications or experience, could prove so useful as a Chinese tow'kay in any of the markets we have considered.

Their method of trading is so totally different from that of the Occident that a Chinaman would have an advantage even over a Chinese-speaking English Civil Servant. ,

The New Zealand trade “show boat” would he assured of a welcome in any port she entered. A small charge for hoarding—a dollar or guilder, as the case might be (about 9/-) 'would bring in a considerable • sum. •• ■flic ship should (he equipped with restaurant service (all New Zealand produce), in addition to a deck cafe, while industrial and scenic films and lectures would prove an attraction. Trade exhibits should be comprehensive, and there should also be a representative collection <>f sporting trophies and photographs. If a few talented New Zealand artists supplement a firstclass band enrolled among the stewards or crew, any foreign port could be effectually stormed and carried in the cause, of trade. New Zealand business men would bo balloting for passages on a tour of unique interest and would help to pay expenses to supplement receipts for cargo and boarding and entertainment charges. It will necessitate the boldness and vision of Wembley organisers for Now Zealand to make this phantom ship an actuality—a ship of inanity, d res sec j from stem to stern, with the band playing her to her berths in the overseas markets of the world.