TRADE WITH FRANCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16042, 1 February 1923, Page 8

TRADE WITH FRANCE.

MANY OPPORTUNITIES. >

A LARGE PURCHASER OF NEW

ZEALAND- WOOL. *

“Interchange of trade between France and New Zealand” was the subject of am address to members of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce by M. Petriquin, of the French trade mission. .

Statistics showed, said M. Petriquin, that the trade between the two countries was ridiculously small, in spite of the fact that; there were many opportunities of trade on both, sjdesi French wines and oils were almost entirely neglected here. In articles such as the Dominion did not' herself ! produce—engines, electrical machinery, tools, textile machinery,' motor cars, chemicals, clothes, stationery, leather and fancy goods, surgical and scientific , : instruments, photographic materials—it was but natural that New Zealanders should look first for them to Great Britain. But he asked that prance come next, in preference to other foreign ■ countries. France could offer better quality than Germany, and would very much like to take her place here held by German trade before the war. “Franco' specialised iii large public ’constructions .abroad., and could offer exceptional value in highly finished textiles, in which;, her annual export was £40,000,000, the silk industry alone exporting £15,000,C00 of finished goods. ‘ ; France would continue, was the opinion of the speaker, a large purchaser of New Zealand wool. Direct trade relationships should be established. Agencies abroad, not necessarily run by Frenchmen, were, needed, but commercial travellers , from France should visit us, and the heads of the French firms should come to see our requirements for themselves. ! Well compiled catalogues were a necessity. If the* mission achieved a close economic friendship, its objects would have been realised.