AMERICAN BUSINESS MEN ARRIVE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 148, 18 March 1939, Page 10

AMERICAN BUSINESS MEN ARRIVE

Auckland Visit On Goodwill Tour desire to establish FRIENDLY CONTACTS By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, March 17. To establish friendly contacts with business men in Australia aud New Zealand and to gain first-hand knowledge of their trade and industry, 32 members of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, some accompanied by their families, arrive'd by the Mariposa on a goodwill tour of the Commonwealth and. Dominion. They left again on the liner for Sydney tonight, but all will return to Auckland, later and at least 13 of the party intend! to spend several weeks in New Zealand. The party, which comprises 51 persons, is under the direction of Mr. C. P. Bayer, field secretary of the chamber, who has conducted, similar tours to Mexico, Alaska, South America and the Orient. This is the first occasion that the South Pacific Dominions have been visited, and it was stated that it was hoped to make the trip an annual fixture for those of the 10,000 members of the chamber who are interested, in the cultivation of international goodwill among commercial interests.

Mr. Bayer explained that the party left Los Angeles on March 1, and the majority would arrive back in the United States on April 17. They would pass through Auckland again on April 3, but 16 of the tourists were following an optional itinerary, 13 of them spending over a month in New Zealand and the remaining three staying for 10 days. Members of the chamber were not travelling as salesmen, but solely with the intention of getting to know Australians and New Zealanders better.

“We have found these tours very valuable, for goodwill in business must extend internationally,” Mr. Bayer stated. “It is the foundation principle of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce which, so far as I know, is the largest in the world. Moreover, we appreciate the visits of many New Zealanders to our city and we are anxious to return the courtesy.” In addition it had been found that the chamber’s policy had been good for business. It was significant that where last year’s trade figures showed a decline of 7 per cent, and 10 per cent, in exports from the United States and Pacific Coast respectively, outward goods passing through Los Angeles harbour had registered an increase of 174 per cent.

A wide variety of industries and many branches of commerce are represented in the personnel of the touring party. Many are manufacturers, some are associated with the retail trade, and others are engaged in such professions as banking and investment. Several women occupying prominent positions in the directorates of large firms are included, together with several retired business men anxious to supplement the experience gained in their own country.