Trade With America.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1922, Page 4

Trade With America.

CONSULAR OFFICIALS QUOTE TARIFF ANOMALIES.

PROBLEMS OF EXCHANGE

WELLINGTON, Jan 3

‘‘We ore prepared to take our medicine. You are out to encourage and develop inter-Empire trade, and we have every respect for your wishes. But there are goods that w# can buy from you a.nd sell to you! to our mutual advantage, and that is our purpose.” In these words, Mr Charles Hbernardt, Consul-G eneral-at Large for the United States, who arrived in Wellington recently, summed up the outlook for trade between America and New Zealand, in conversation with a Times representative. TARIFFS FOR REVENUE.

“Trade is suffering all over the world, through the difficulty in adjusting exchanges,” said Mr Eberhardt. “Countries are pressed for funds, and they arc revising their tariffs with a view to increasing revenue. This means a readjustment of the countries you import from or export to. but foreign trade generally will stabilise itself in time, it is my belief. But so far as J can see, the new American tariff will not interfere with the trade that has already grown np lictween New Zealand and the United States. Since I arrived in New Zealand. I have been apprised of comment tha.t has sought to prove that the new American tariff is prohibitive. That! this is not so is proved bv the freedom with which America bought wool at the sales held recently at Auckland and Wellington. WOOL FOR AMERICA.

“Yes,” said Mr David F. Wilber, tlio Consul-General for New Zealand, who arrived, with Mr Eberhardt. “If the tariff were made prohibitive, there would be no revenue from it. The United States Treasury reports showed that under the old tariff, there was a, deficit of 165,000,000 dollars, and the new Administration’s policy has been to even it up. The new tariff on wool is only fifteen cents a. pound, and, as it takes only a little over two pounds of wool for a s*iit of clothes, the tariff charge is less than two shillings extra. NO NOTICE OF NEW DUTIES. “The New Zealand tariff operates a little harshly against American goods in one respect,” said Mr Ehorhnrdt. “Tlie new duties came into force, the day after it was issued by the Government. Cargoes that are on the water, sent from Amorico under conditions rulincr at the time of the old tariff are therefore without notice <mhiocted to an increasing duty. The United States gives adequate notice, sometimes up to some months, of a chnn.ce in the tariff, so that exporters have an onportunity of reviewing their position before shinping under the new schedule of duties. Another handicap t- American trade under the Vow Zealand tariff was mentioned hv Mr Wilher. It was due to different methods eroMoved in quoting the exchange rate. “Ui America.” he said, “we onote the value of the dollar in local currency; here yon quote it. at Urn current v n lne of + ho evehange, nlthouch vou have in the past quoted 1 , it at the pa r rate.” Roth gentlemen agreed that a urrij form system of n noting the currency between th° two countries would benefit traders, besides removin'* an nno malv.

HET/P FOR. THE TR ADER. “We are trying to build up a bigger and stronger organisation.” ’.•aid Mr Eberhnrdti. speaking of the Consular service. “It has heen declßed by the Department, of Commerce at Warfungton that the Consulate-General shall he located at the sent, of Gevernaucnt. Thus it has heen moved from Sydney to Melbourne, and from AiwtMisnd td Wellington, in aeeordance vfSh fits policy. Wc have, hones that our tn#de relations with New Zealand wffl improve to our mutual benefit.. Rut we are prepared to take our medicine; von are out' to eneonjyige and develop inter-Empire trade. T+ is one of the duties of our service td assist, prospect, ive American buyers of New Zealand goods, just as it is our duty tb furnish, every facility for the marketing of American goods here. The world Is divided into five trade territories, os far as the American Consular service is concerned. Mr Eherhadt’s territory embraces Siberia, Mongolia. Chinas Jn pan, the East Indies. Australia, New Zealand, ,n.nd the Islands. He intends to leave New Zealand on the MnraiVtn on Tuesday, and, when ho reaches the United States, he will have been over two years away from his headquarters. Air Eberhardt speaks highly of what he has seen of the Dominion since he arrived in Auckland a week ago. His trip south included an enjoyable fishing excursion.