DUTCH INDIES MARKET.

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LII, Issue 32, 21 April 1931, Page 7

DUTCH INDIES MARKET.

DOMINION PROSPECTS

EXPERT TO INVESTIGATE

The announcement that the New Zealand Trade Commissioner in Sydney, Mr L. J. Schmitt, will leave almost immediately for the Dutch East Indies and Singapore to inquire into the possibility of building up new markets for the Dominion's products and manufactures was made last week by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Hon. P. A. de la Perj elle. j Mr Perelle said that New Zealand had never been in the background in placing its wool, beef, mutton and cheese, and also much of the manufactures of the Dominion's secondary industries before desirable markets. The Government was always on the look out for new markets to exploit, and in these times of trade depression it was necessary to do so. , Promise Fulfilled. "Some time ago," said Mr Perelle, "I promised the Chambers of Commerce, which have always done good work, that the Department of Industries and Commerce would make a strong effort to find some new and profitable markets for our products and manufactures which have gained and maintained a lot of praise abroad for their excellence of quality. The promise made to the Chambers of Commerce has been fulfilled. The Government has decided to send to the Dutch East Indies and Singapore a competent trade representative who

\ will investigate the market, among other things, for butter, casein, milk, cream, apples, leather and also tinned meats. Inquiries will also be made about a market for some of the manu- | factures of our secondary industries. I The Dutch East Indies is a market well worth watching and developing. "Since I have been Minister of Industries and Commerce," the Minister continued, "excellent reports have been furnished to me by officers of the department, and I have been very eager for the Government to go in more and more for new markets. The Prime Minister and other members of the Cabinet haye j seen eye to eye with the proposals put forward. "Recently Cabinet discussed the question of exploring new trade aven- • ues. Every member of the Government is keen to see that all our wares, j primary and secondary, go further afield. We have the goods to offer; and all that is required is to display them, for our producers have a worldwide repute, and get proper markets established." Comparative Trading. Discussing figures dealing with the present export of New Zealand products to the Dutch East Indies, Mr Perelle stated that during 1930 New Zealand exported to the Dutch East Indies butter to the value of £6530, casein £370, and dried, preserved and condensed milk £764. Australia's exports of these commodities to the same territory for 1928-29 totalled £733,000. The Government was desirous of developing trade with the Dutch East Indies, which had a population of some 50,000,000. Mr Schmitt will leave Sydney next month on his mission, and it is expected that his report will be in the Government's hands by September.