LITTLE TRADE OPENING

Taranaki Daily News, 20 February 1935, Page 7

LITTLE TRADE OPENING

NEW ZEALAND IN JAPAN MR. W. E. BARNARD’S CONCLUSION. AVERSION TO MEAT AND BUTTER. PROSPECTS FOR OTHER EXPORTS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Feb. 19. “There is a definite aversion to New Zealand lamb and mutton in Japan,” said Mr. W. E. Barnard, M.P., on his return to-day after a three months’ visit to the Orient. “Nor do they like our salted butter. I fear there is little prospect of a profitable export trade developing in these products.” Most people he spoke to had heard a great deal about Australia, but distressingly little about New Zealand, Mr. Barnard said. Australia’s trade mission to Japan did an enormous amount of good. He thought New Zealand would be well advised to do the same so that unexplored markets could be opened and the Dominion be made better known. The most likely markets that could be developed apart from wool were dried milk, hides, skins and tallow. In general comment Mr. Barnard spoke of the Japanese people’s intense loyalty to the emperor and the intensely national feeling. Although the workers were low-paid by comparison with New Zealand standards they were not sweated. “A great thing to remember in dealing with Japan is the oversensitiveness of the people,” he said. “They imagine the world is against them and they are quick to take offence. There are great possibilities of trading with Japan, but we must understand each other before there can be any success.”