VISIT TO AUSTRALIA

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19960, 19 November 1934, Page 7

VISIT TO AUSTRALIA

ARRIVAL OF NEW ZEALAND DELEGATION TRADE AND COMMUNICATIONS DISCUSSED United Press Association—By Eleetrit Telegraph —Copyright (Received November 19, 12.40 a.m.) SYDNEY, November 18. The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates and the Hon. R. Masters had a very rough trip and were glad to be in port. The visitors were met at the wharf by Dr. Earle Page, deputy Prime Minister, Mr F. H. Stewart, Sir Henry Gullett, Mr L. Schmidt and others. Mr Coates, Mr Masters and party, who are staying at the Hotel Australia, expect to remain in Sydney a week, participating in the Royal festivities and attending a complimentary dinner to Mr J. G. Latham, the former Federal Attorney-General, to-morrow night. Then they will go to Canberra for a trade conference. Interviewed to-night, Mr Masters said the trade agreement between Australia and New Zealand was working satisfactorily, from the view point of both countries, but there were certain aspects on which there should be closer understanding, also certain matters arising in the New Zealand tariff which needed the further consideration of the countries. Mr Coates supplemented the interview with the following comments, that apart from trade questions there were some things of a wider nature in which the Commonwealth and the Dominion were naturally interested, and in which an exchange of views was both desirable and necessary. Australia and New Zealand were friendly rivals, and were supplying similar commodities to the United Kingdom, and a heart to heart talk on this subject was bound to have good results, Mr Coates acknowledged. Mr Masters emphasised that in the past ten years, the balance of trade in favour of Australia was £15,000,000 and £20,000,000. It was interesting to note that out of 21 classes of goods exported by Australia, New Zealand was the largest purchaser of 14 classes and, despite the fact that the balance would inevitably continue to be in favour of Australia, the Dominion was very desirous of establishing the best two-way trade possible. Mr Masters said he was an advocate of speedy and safe development of air travel. “We have some admirable ships crossing the Tasman," said Mr Masters, “but there are still some poor sailors amongst us. Personally I feel safer travelling' by air than by other means.’’