S.A. TRADE MISSION VISITING CITY

Press, Volume C, Issue 29511, 12 May 1961, Page 12

S.A. TRADE MISSION VISITING CITY

“There is no doubt that South Africa’s inability to sell some products under Commonwealth preference is going to make a big difference to her trading position. But on this mission we received a very good reception in South-east Asia, and South Africa intends to increase her trade in that direction,” said the leader of the South African Trade Mission (Mr I. G. Fleming) in Christchurch last evening.

Mr Fleming is accompanied by Mr E. D. Andrews, director of export promotion in the Department of Commerce and Industries, and Mr F. W Waring, a former Springbok Rugby player who is also a former member of Parliament. Messrs Fleming and Waring have been accompanied to New Zealand by their wives who have remained in the North Island until the mission completes its one-week visit. Mr Fleming, who is a director of the South African Reserve Bank, the South African Iron and Steel Corporation, and other companies, said South Africa would establish a trade com-

missioner at Hong Kong, and that ambassadors would be exchanged with Japan A trade commissioner would also be established in Canberra and would take in New Zealand. Iron aad Steel

Iron and steel and tinned fruit had been important exports from South Africa to New Zealand in recent years, and although these items were outside the existing trade agreement and were not protected, the effects on South Africa would probably not be great. “We have an iron and steel works which produces two million and a quarter tons a year, and this is being increased over the next 10 years to double its capacity. Even then, it will still only be catering for 60 per cent of South Africa’s requirements in bulk South Africa cannot be looked to as a regular supplier of steel, although quantities which are in excess of her temporary requirements do become available occasionally, and these have formed the bulk of the shipments to New Zealand.”

The quantity of tinned fruit exported from South Africa to New Zealand was not great, said Mr Fleming After members of the mission have made themselves available to local importers and exporters today, they will attend a function organthe Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. Tomorrow the mission will fly from Christchurch to Auckland, and will leave for Sydney on Sunday.