TRADE RELATIONS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17238, 19 April 1930, Page 15

TRADE RELATIONS

"TOO MUCH AS'tfßfc'lT?"

DOMINION AND AUSTRALIA

LOWER TARIFFS NEEDED

There is a strong feeling amongst members of tlje Auckland Chamber of Commerce that trade relations Between New Zealand and Australia are far from satisfactory. Holding this view, the executive arranged a joint meeting with members of the Auckland Advertising Club this week in order to heal- an address by Mr. L. J. Schmitt, who will leave for the Commonwealth in a few weeks as New Zealand Government re-' presentative. There was a large attendance.

Mr. M. J. Stewart, president of the chamber, in introducing -Mr. Schmitt, said that at the last conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce ol New Zealand a remit had' been carried regretting (lie increasing asperity that was evident in the trade relations between New Zealand and Australia, and urging that a new reciprocal tariff on much lower levels should be introduced. He was glad to note that this movement was being fostered in Australia, and at the next conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce in the Commonwealth a remit along similar lines' would be moved bv Brisbane delegates. Mr. Schmitt said that while in Auckland he had found that 35 members ol the Auckland Chamber were engaged in shipping' to Australia, in addition to 20 others who exported, but were not members of the chamber. Taking both ordinary trade an*tourist traffic, the turnover during the past 10 years between the two countries was about £100.000.000, ah amount, said Mr. Schmitt, that was well worth looking after. Although Australia's population was much larger than that of New Zealand a greater number of New Zealand tourists visited Australia than there were of Australians, visiting New Zealand It would be his duty to endeavor to remed'v this. Australia was our best customer' for mnnv trading linos. Of the Australian States, Queensland appeared to be our best Held for tourist business, and' he hoped it would be possible to arrange belter shipping facile ties. „ ~ . There were 45.1 XX) New Zealamlers m \ustralia and 55.000' Ausiralians in New Zcaland. He bad- been surprised to find that there was no nropcr co-ordination ;„• .t„. cAmVta rnfflriric for tourists.

Mr. Schmitt sni I a means- of mcreashit; useful contacts between both countries was the visits of sectional groups of business men and farmers. Approximately 2603 business men came from Australia to New Zealand, each year, and lie: would like to see the chambers of commie rrid such organisations assist to hn' 4 o their interchanges increased ■and fullv utilised. He hoped members of the ehairiber would co-onerate with his department and make full use of bis services.