EASTERN MARKETS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 90, 5 February 1947, Page 6

EASTERN MARKETS

LACK OF NEW ZEALAND EXPORTS

SURPRISE AT INDIFFERENCE

Surprise that New Zealand is not taking advantage of opportunities of establishing export markets in the East is expressed in a letter received by the secretary of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association (Mr R. T. Alston) from a Bombay commercial agency. The letter compares the difficulty of getting exports from New Zealand, which suffered no war damage, with the export drive of the United Kingdom. After drawing attention to the frequent statement of New Zealand firms that they are unable, to meet even the New Zealand demand, the letter says:—

“If the answer is not in this strain then it is to the effect that at the present time licenses for the export of goods, from New Zealand'are not freely available, and that, in anf case, were they available, the prospects, due to the fact that there are no shipping facilities.

“You. will appreciate that such letters are indeed disappointing and make the opportunities of placing New Zealand goods on the Indian market less and less probable. It is a source of wonderment to us to receive such replies, particularly that of not having sufficient goods to supply the New,Zealand demands. “Throughout the war, Great Britain was heavily bombed, her- industries were severely damaged, and her people were very sparsely rationed, yet under the auspices of various Government departments there are such things as ‘Britain Can Make It,’ ‘Britain Can Export It,’ and ‘Britain Will Supply You’ exhibitions. With it all, the people of Great Britain are perhaps more severely rationed today than during the war, but they are making a very determined and successful effort not only to recover previous markets but to establish new ones.

‘To the best of our knowledge, New Zealand suffered no such industrial losses during the war, and for this reason, therefore, we cannot understand why the country appears to be indifferent to exporting and creating an export trade. Suffice it to say that if the opportunities are not taken now of establishing connections they will become more difficult if not impossible in a year’s time.

“We shall appreciate hearing, therefore, if there is a likelihood in the near future, shall we say the immediate future, of there being some change of attitude either among exporters, would-be exporters, the Government, or shipping companies, and whether the prospect of obtaining goods from-New Zealand freely and in adequate quantities are at all likely.”