FRANCE AND N.Z.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1920, Page 3

FRANCE AND N.Z.

I ECONOMIC RELATIONS

REPORT OF MISSION TO DOMINION

i Under tlie title of “ Tlie Economic Relations between France and New Zealand,” there has be'en published a comprehensive report of the French Mission which visited the Dominion in December, 1918. Having dealt generally with various phases of life in New Zealand, the report goes on to state, inter alia: — “With respect to the methods that we should adopt for extending our business, a large reform is, on the other hand, desirable. As we remarked above, we ought to establish direct communication. On all sides we heard the wish expressed of seeing France directly represented by agencies for exhibiting our goods to customers. Doubtless it would he difficult to secure Frenchmen for this purpose, but that is not necessary. On the contrary, it will be easy for French exporters to obtain local agents in New Zealand. The important thing would he to select them with discretion, but we could rely for good ad- , vice in this connection not only in j our Consulate in the Dominion, but I on the Chambers of Commerce and the hanks in New Zealand, whom we have found so well disposed towards France and ready to help us in this particular.” Touching on the question of New Zealand’s Customs tariff, the report remarks that the principle of Imperial preference has acquired, as it were, a statutory obligation—corresponding to the sincere and openly-expressed loyalty of the people. Rut yet there is nothing, as we have said, to hinder the making of | commercial treaties between New Zea- | land and foreign Powers. • No use has up to the present time been made of this | possibility. The only commercial agreeI ment as yet entered into is that with South Africa, conferring on the latter some advantages in respect of certain goods which even England herself does not enjoy. Rut this case, we must not forget, concerns an agreement within the British Empire. One sees, therei fore, in that in spite of the natural pro ( tectionism of New Zealand, the poskibilij ty, and even the desirability of entering j into commercial treaties, is recognised. Considering the excellent relations and ! tne friendliness of a very special kind ' that have sprung up with France as a re suit of the, war, it is certainly to he wisli- | od that the two countries should, in the ■•near futujjge, come to some agreement , with rogafcl to trade that will admit of a large and reciprocal expansion., j The repor.t gives a list of the products . are of special interest as regards France’s export trade to New Zealand, as follow: —Textiles and wearing apparel, woollen tissues, silks, cottons, gloves, lace and embroidery, flowers and feathers, linen, corsets, furs, socks and stockings, machinery, wire, smooth and barbed, water and gas pipes, motor-cars, pneumatic tyres, paper and stationery, wg.ll papers, chemicals and pharmaceutical productions, scientific instruments, glass and hardware, tiles, ironmongery, perfumery, musical instruments, pipes, and smokers’ requisites,, wines, champagnes and nqu.fiifs, fertilisers, seeds. , In, reference to what it terms the future of Franco-New Zealand friendship, the report states: “The most practical means of rendering our position permanent, will be by developing commercial relations. Wc_ have said this many times already in the preceding pages, and we repeat U an we come to their condiwieVv, As the proverb runs “ short reckonings make long friend % ’< j and" if it he true that “trade” follows the flag,” is it not natural that it sfc.ould follow the victorious standards of Allied nations? Never have the conditions been, nor will they he again, so favourable to the efßorts which we can now make in tins respect. There is much to be done, for New Zealand is capable of becoming not only an important source of supplies, but also a good customer. Yet it will he necessary to push our way. We have indicated the methods required for success and now we must pursue them. Doubtless we shall not be able to do so as much as we could wish. The establishment of direct communication of which the Germans had seen the necessity, qnd whose beneficial efforts would soon make, themselves felt, will probably remain a difficulty.- And, besides, it is not likely to be easy to set up in New Zealand one of those commercial bureaux which the Government regards as of great utility in encouraging the sale of our productions. Rut the consulate is willing to redouble its activities on behalf ot closer,contact between the buyers and sellers who too often arc insufficiently known to each' other. The commercial community in New Zealand and the local, hanks will cordially assist in the same direction, as we have been well assured. . . England, under whose august patronage the policy of New Zealand finds its own expression, views with entire favour the newly-arisen intimacy between the Dominion and France. Is it not then permissible to hope that ' when our Government reorganises its Customs relations witli the, outer ; world, it will be willing to include New s Zealand among the countries with wlifieh it shoujd- establish a regime of close economic friendship?”