NEW ZEALAND TRADE.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 June 1925, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND TRADE.

“BEST YEAR IN HISTORY.” HINTS TO EXPORTERS. London, May 6. Mr. N. F. Elmslie, the New Zealand Trade Commissioner, brings to England a good account of conditions in New Zealand, and the facts in his possession should be very useful in his contact with British manufacturers and merchants interested in the export trade to New Zealand. He says that the enthusiasm for British goods is such that purchasers will give up to 20 per cent, more in order to obtain British-made in preference to foreign products. America and Japan, it is true, are doing their utmost to exploit the market, but Mr. Elmslie believes they are not making any headway, and in the matter of motor-cars and agricultural and dairying machinery in particular there is still considerable scope for the exporter in Great Britain.

Mr. Elmslie says that from the point of view .both of production and export, the Dominion has had the best year in buying on a larger scale than ever before. The British exporter is now back in the New Zealand market. However, I shall point out that there is still room for improvement on the part of British firms, particularly in the export of motor-cars. In every centre of New Zealand I was asked why Britain did not send out cars suitable for Dominion conditions. Certainly the right types are now beginning to go out, and the position has improved. During 1923 and the first half of 1924 only one in every twenty cars imported into New Zealand was British. There has been a very marked improvement since, and to-day the proportion has grown to one in six.”

The information which the Trade Commissioner brings of the Dunedin Exhibition should be useful in his contact with prospective exhibitors. He says it will certainly be the best ever held in the Dominion. “A number of British manufacturers have already taken space, ’ he remarks, ‘’but I shall emphasise the fact that any British firm that wants to hold its position in the Dominion ought to consider seriously whether it can afford to stay out. Continental, L nited States. Canadian, and Australian firms will all be well represented. Although no German firm is permitted to take space, there will be no ban on German products being exhibited by local importers.” * Business interviews with Mr. Elmslie are taking place daily at the Department of Overseas Trade.