TRADE WITH THE EAST.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17177, 22 October 1923, Page 1

TRADE WITH THE EAST.

NEW ZEALAND’S POSITION. Owing to the Imperial Government having decided to make Singapore a naval base, the question of trade with the Near East will form an important theme of discussion at the forthcoming meeting of the Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, states the “ Dominion.” A comprehensive report on the subject has been prepared for submission to the meeting. This report points out that during the year 1917-18, the value of Australian produce exported to the Near East was £1,154.865. and in 1921-22 this had risen to £2,341,618. “These figures show.” continues the report, “ that the East offers a considerable potential market for New Zealand produce, and. seeing that the Imperial Government is contemplating an expenditure of £11.000,000 on a naval base at Singapore, it surely behoves this country to explore these markets at once with a view to securing its share. The cost of sending a mission with exhibits lias been estimated at between £2500 and £3OOO, and it has been proposed that the mission shall visit the four chief commercial centres of the Near East, viz., Batavia, Surabaya, Samarang. and Singapore. Whilst in Australia and Jaye, the mission will wait upon the shipping companies now trading between Australia sfnd the Near East to discuss the terms and conditions upon which regular sailings can be arranged between at least one New Zealand port and the East.”