The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 1930.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 March 1930, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 1930.

TRADE WITH AUSTRALIA. New Zealand is taking the wise steps of sending a trade representative to Australia, and much good should result. 'The Government lias made an excellent choice in Mr L. J. Schmitt, who has been connected with the Trade and iiKtust.iOiS Department and also with the Arbitration Court. He is therefore fully conversant wiLh the trading possibilities oi the Dominion, and from the energy and resource he mis displayed in other directions, should prove an enthusiastic and energetic officer. Mr Schmitt is leaving lor Sydney shortly, and entertained at Wellington he outlined a policy for the betterment of trading relations between the Commonwealth and the Dominion. “New Zealanders and Australians, members of two very important portions of the Empire, should by determination and effort encourage and increase good will, mutual understanding and a proper knowledge of each other's, problems,” declared Mr L. J. Schmitt at.tiic farewell. “The ■ Government has decided that the reorganisation of New Zealand’s representation in Australia shall include a head office in Sydney,” he said. “This will not be au additional office, but will replace the present Sydney office, A branch office will be maintained in Melbourne, and .it is my intention to consider the" Appointment as agents o. firms who are, in private business as tour promoters in all the principal ci + ies and towns in Australia and work in with them. They will operate on the usual commission basis. I hope that the Melbourne-Bluff-Wellington service will receive growing patronage in New Zealand and the Australian Southern States. Later it is intended that Tasmania shall be linked up, md special efforts will be made to inrease the trade and tourist traffic by .his service. Development of trade citli the East will probably take phue lirough Brisbane, or Sydney. I iu:end to make inquiries in older to be jure which is the more suitable port, f it is found that Brisbane offers betel' and cheaper facilities for the tranihipment of cargoes to and from the .fast, this will assist in the development of direct shipping from Queensand, which seems to me to offer a .plendid field for tourists and the export of certain New Zealand cominolities. With the co-operation of all parties in New Zealand greatly increased numbers of tourists should be encouraged to come to the Dominion. It seems almost incredible that New Zealand with its much smaller popuntion should send more tourists to tlie Commonwealth than Australia sends :iere. Yet 10,300 New Zealanders went .0 Australia in 1928 and only 8700 Australians came here. Publicity properly co-ordinated, directed and followed up, will be our aim. Unfortunately, New Zealand and Australian trade figures have been diminishing for the past three years. One of my greatest problems will be to reverse this tendency. You all know that the balance of trade is and lias been greatly in favour of Australia. But she is still our best customer for quite a number of our exportable products, and second to United Kingdom in a considerable range of other goods. Our prosperity is largely bound up with hers, especially in the tourist trade. Our financial relations are close, because of the same banks and insurance companies operating in both countries, and because of Hie fact that it was mainly British capital that developed both Commonwealth and Dominion. To foster trade it would be excellent to extend the practice of inviting business ■ men and public men to visit New Zealand and confer with such organisations as chambers of commerce, manufacturers’ associations, tourist and progress leagues. Reciprocity in such a course should be possible, ns I know it is favoured in Australia.” Judged by this outline of policy Mr Schmitt is taking up. it would appear he should be callable of achieving important results, and it may lie assumed bis energies will lie in that direction, working with unabated enthusiasm.