EASTERN MARKETS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19987, 20 December 1934, Page 7

EASTERN MARKETS

QUESTION OF ACCESS By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, December 19. Opportunity was taken by Mr R. Masters during his visit to Australia to make close investigations regarding the possibility of obtaining direct shipping services from New Zealand to the various eastern countries.

“It became more and more obvious to me,” he said to-day, ‘‘that New Zealand must take early steps to extend I her trade to those countries. The longer we delay the more difficult it will become to obtain a footing, as our competitors are becoming more deeply entrenched, and it is a matter for regret that we did not make more determined efforts in this direction years ago. It is vital that New Zealand should have direct shipping to Java, the Malay States. Hongkong, Shanghai, Japan, and the Philippines, with occasional calls at New Guinea and New Caledonia, if we are to develop worthwhile markets for our produce. He said Australia to a large extent dealt in the same class of goods as New Zealand, and with several lines of direct shipping at their service had a very definite advantage in that New Zealand goods had to be transhipped at Sydney. He found the shipping companies undoubtedly interested in direct shipping from New Zealand, and was approached by their representatives and executives with suggestions as to the most satisfactory method of instituting a service. It was evident that several companies of various nations were keen to enter the trade. The discussions he had had with the shipping companies would be continued in New Zealand, and he was hopeful of being able to submit to Cabinet and the Produce Boards, in the near future, something of a definite nature for consideration.