TRADE WITH AMERICA

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 135, 4 December 1929, Page 17

TRADE WITH AMERICA

ROOM FOR DEVELOPMENT

BALANCE AGAINST DOMINION

(Special to "The Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, This Day.

"When New Zealand's representation was ■ widened to include the Pacific Coast, there would be practically no serious bar to the extension of trade between the United States and1 this Dominion," said the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Hon. J. G. Cobbe). ia proposing the toast "Our Guests,''■•■at.-:a dinner in the Grand Hotel, when the Government entertained the Malolo .passengers and representative Aucklauders.

Among those present were the Postmaster-General (Hon. J. B. Donald), the Mayor (Mr. G. Baildon), the United States Consul (Mr. Walter Boyle), and local members of Parliament. ;

L The Minister, explained that the Government had. recently decided to - appoint a, trade representative to Canada. He would deal principally with trade matters in Eastern Canada, but it was hoped to extend „'iis'jurisdiction to the. eastern seaboard' of the United States. It was hoped'that later New Zealand's trade representation would be Widened to include ;the Pacific-Coast.

•. There was ample room for still further development in trade between New Zealand and the United States, said Mr. Cobbe. A gratifying announcement xhad been made last year by one of the companies that with a view* toward improving trade facilities between v-'New Zealand and Pacific Coast;ports,df the United States, it intended: installing machinery in four vessels for that par.ticular service.-. . \

Mr. Cobbe said it was obvious that the balance of-trade was now considerably in favour .of, America. This 'Dominion's imports from . the,"''UnitedStates regularly, exceeded the value of the exports by a large margin. That must be due ia a large measure to the activities of America's enthusiastic trade representatives in New Zealand. With improved facilities there would, however, be the inducement of further trade, and no" doubt the future, would show increased quantities of frozen meat, butter, and other primary pro'duets being shipped from New Zealand. FUNCTION ON SHIP,, . The Matson Navigation Company entertained many of the leading citizens of Auckland at luncheon on board the Malolo, the occasion- being largely in recognition of the hospitality extended ta the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce party which is making the Pacific cruise on the vessel. Captain C. A. Berndtson, commander of the Malolo, presided.

Mr. M. H. Wynyard, chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, welcomed the American visitors, and gave an interesting outline of the coming to New Zealand of the Maoris, and white people.

A reply was made -by Mr. Arthur Soniers, former president of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce- and chairman of the BoaTd of Education of New York city.

The Hon. J. B. Donald, PostmasterGeneral, spoke on the social and political importance of the cruise in place of the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, who had been called away from Auckland. He conveyed greetings from Sir Joseph Ward, who was very sorry that illness had prevented him from being in Auckland during the visit of the Malolo. Although the people here had previously known quite a number of ' Americans and valued their friendship, the result of the meetings with those .taking part in the present cruise was that American stock had gone up. very .much indeed. He was sure that he :Tv*as not alone in saying that. Reference was made to the feeling in some quarters that the trade, .between New Zealand and America was unevenly divided. The speaker thought that this feeling was disappearing; and" "that"one" effect of the Malolo's visit would be to stimulate the readjustment, of trade.

Mr. C. C. Moore, former president of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, and chairman of the cruise com-' mittee, replying on behalf of the visitors, expressed, a'hope that New Zealanders would, pay a. return visit,of this nature. It was not too much to undertake. Iv Australia they were discussing it now.

Mr. H. T. Merritt, president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, spoke on tho business aspects of tho cruise. Mr. R. N. Lynch, vice-president and manager of tho Sau Francisco Chamber of Commerce, emphasised tho need of an international sentiment among tho peoples of the countries round, the Pacific. He spoke of the similarity of British and American institutions, and tho need of their maintenance.

■ The Malolo tourists : all reassembled in. Auckland to-day,-the second party returning from Eotorua in the ' afternoon. Further sight-seeing in and about the city was done, by.. those -who had .come back from -the thermal district ■on ''Monday.1

_ inieontinuation of her cruise., which ;is'to-.:end at Sail Francisco on 20th Deecmb'er, the Malolo sailed last night for ; Suva v .