THE NEW FINLAND

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 257, 25 July 1919, Page 7

THE NEW FINLAND

REACHING OUT FOR OVERSEAS TRADE

CONSUL IN AUSTRALIA

Tho French Republic and Great Britain have reiwgnised the right of Finland to be nn independent State, l'urther recognition hos now reached Mr. IC. J. Naukler, First Consul for Finland in Sydney. Ho has been officially, informed tfmt the independence of Finland has now been recognised by the United States, Italy, end Japan. The whole of the population of Finland celebrated this complete recognition of its. independence by grent rejoicings, especially in the capital of lielsingfors. All streets were beflagged; the populace demonstrated their joy by processions; and the school children wero granted holidays. It is only last year since Finland acquired her independence, and started out to decide her own future after more than one hundred yews' subjection nnd humiliation under the Russian yoke. To-day she , is a young nation, confident in herself, that knows tho strength of her own resources.

To-day there are many things, says the new Consul, that could bo exchanged !hctweon Australia and Finland. Australia wants paper end pulp. Finland is producing these in enormous quantities. In pre-war days, Russia wns 'one of her best customers; and thousands of tons of paper found yearly their way into the great Empire. . But now, owing to interna) {roubles. Russia import? hardly anything, and the surplus of the Finnish paper production could consequently bo exported to Australii to fill local requirements.

Tliero is also Bnltic, excellent for building purposes. During the war Finland has accumulated an immense hoard of this valuable timber, waiting to be exported to countries that "are in need of soft wood material. Cream separators of the highest standard are manufactured at >home, and should, fetching a moderate price, find a market here. Safety matches and cellulosa might be sought after by Australian merchants.

Coming to tho exports from ' ''stralia, there are whe.it and meat, liu> staple food of the world, and the chief products of this country. Finland, not Ijcing a self-supporting nation, is in desperate need of (lipso two things, upon which her very existence depends. The last few years have almost entirely depleted her stoilc of cattle, and have caused n serious meat famine. Frozen and tinned jjieat from this country would find their way to the. remotest parts at Finland. It is. only a few days' steam between England and Finland, and if meat could be profitably exnorted to Britain, and put on the- market at a reasonable price, wliy (the Consul asks) could it not likewiso 1» sent to Finland, provided there ires a direct ■ line of steamers between the two countries'.

Beforo the war, Hussia exported to Finland all the wheat she needed, but now she lias to loot somewhere else for it._ Naturally she turns to the two granaries of the world, Australia and Iho Arrenfine; and she has to.'be content viV\ what she can pet after the demands ni '.« more prosperous nations are c ilis. r«v. Wool would lir eagerly bought: by Finnish merchants. Then Hir're are minor products, as jam, tinned fruit, honey, wines, and furs, all of which there is "a shortage in Knland.

In the pre-war days Finland imported .£8,000,000 .worth of goods from Germany The bulk of this came from the British colonies and SouMi America, with German merchants acting as. middlemen, and receiving great profits. The reason of this wii? that German merchants were able to fell their goods , on special terms. By oliminating the middleman (he producer and consumer could get into direct touch with one another, and the imported goods would be more accessible to the public J> ow Finland can nbtain nearly all her needs from the British F.mnire. Thus we can anticipate,that Finland, in the future, will be a good cummer to tho Empire, especially as the Finnish people nave an unbounded confid-""p i n the fairness of British business -rt.(<jpi M There are several thousand Finns in Australia to-day. Some have Fettled-on the land, and seem to thrive well A "great number are sailors. To the credit of the Finnsitcanbesaid that diirin" the war a high .percentage of them joined the Australian Army, and fought for this countrv.