IN THE PUBLIC EYE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20097, 28 November 1930, Page 19

IN THE PUBLIC EYE.

NEW ZEALAND IN SYDNEY. NEW OFFICES OPENED. Craou oob owv coitMspoacßS?.; SYDNEY, November 20. It will certainly not bo the fault of the New Zealand Trade Commissioner (Mr L. J. Schmitt) if New Zealand does not get its full share of publicity in Australia. Almost as soon as he arrived in Sydney Mr Schmitt came to the conclusion that the New Zealand offices were quite unsuitable from a publicity point of view. They were situated in the heart of the city, certainly, but they were on the fifth floor of a largo building, and to search for them was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Countless New Zealanderp who visited theae parts went away unaware of the existence of New Zealand offices. Naturally tfcey went un noticed by Australians, too. But all this has beon changed. The New Zealand offices are now on the Street level at the corner of Pitt street and Martin place. A more central position would be difficult to imagine, for it is opposite the General Post Office. Great alterations were made to meet the requirements of the Commissioner, who has arranged a most elaborate display of pictures and posters and the like in order to prove to doubters, if there bo any, that New Zealand is really a very attractive country. Indeed, these posters suggest that the Dominion is a place of perpetual sunshine, a country of charming colours, of romance, of sport, of rare beauty. Auckland in the grip of a steamy fog, or Wellington buffeted by a howling southerly, or Christchurch burnt by a cruel westerly, or Dunedin in the grip of a snow-storm—these things are not depleted. Crowds Interested. Ever since the new offices have been occupied crowds of Australians have gathered round the spacious windows gazing at the various exhibits, and unconsciously drinking in the facts that have been arrayed by Mr Schmitt for their education. The people have been particularly interested in the splendid pictures of deop-aea fishing and of the trout-laden rivers and lakes. Views of the capital cities are displayed, and the knowledge of the Sydney people of the Dominion must have been ln> creased enormously already. If this display encourages tourists to cross the Tasman it will have served its purpose. It seems to have been the aim of most Australian tourists in the past to travel to England, but exchange difficulties are bound to affect that traffic. It is hoped, therefore, that eyes will be turned closer to home, and that Now Zealand will be the gainer. This seems more than likely. Trade Prospocte. The encouragement of tourist traffic alone is not Mr Schmitt's object. He is living up to his title of Trade Commissioner, and at the opening of the new offices last Monday trade was the principal topic. Endorsing an opinion freely expressed by Mr Schmitt, the acting-Minister for Customs (Mr Forde) said: "We realise what an immense advantage would accrue to both countries from a new trade treaty between Australia and New Zealand, and we feel that the time is ripe for a reconsideration of the existing treaty. The present treaty was entered into in 1922, and for a few years past the prospect of of arranging a new reciprocal treaty has not been too bright, largely because of misunderstandings between the Dominion and the Commonwealth. In the five years preceding 1922 the balance of trade was very distinctly in favour of the Commonwealth. Exports of Australian produce increased from £2,018,000 to £6,272,000, whereas imports of New Zealand articles increased only from £1,986,000 to £1,996,000. Since the making of the agreement, however, Australian exports to New Zealand have slumped badly, and in 1928-29 amounted to only £2,824,000. I believe that there is room for adjustment of the position to the mutual advancement of both countries. When Mr Scullin is on his way back from England it is possible that further dlseusgions will take place. I know there has already been some discussion between the Prime Ministers of both countries on the other side of the world. Australia in tho last four years has become a big producer of rlee. She has also a surplus of 200,000 tons of sugar a year. Perhaps under the new treaty New Zealand will take soma of our surplus, while Australia in turn takes some more of her products—potatoes, for instance." (Laughter.) After the Lord Mayor (Alderman Marks), who knows New Zealand so well, had said that New Zealand pro. vided for tourists better than any other country in the world, the Chief Secretary of New South Wales (Mr M. Gosling) said that the prospects of encouraging tourist traffic were particularly bright. The people of the world no longer wanted to keep their noses to the grindstone and live in the workshop. They wanted to travel, to see other countries, and the conditions were such that New Zealand was bound to get a share of the Australian tourist traffic.

It was fitting that Maori music should have been such a feature of the opening ceremony. New Zealand s enterprise deserves great success.