TRADE WITH THE EAST

Hokitika Guardian, 23 April 1930, Page 1

TRADE WITH THE EAST

OPPORTUNITIES FOR N.Z

JAPAN INTERESTED IN THE DOMINION.

WELLINGTON, April 21

Confirmed in the opinion that New Zealand would benefit with Japan in the establishment of closer trade relations between the two countries, Mr Yugi Nagashima, manager in Australia and New Zealand for Mitsui Bussnn Kaislm, Ltd., general merchants, of Tokyo, arrived from Sydney by the Tahiti to-day. Mr Nagashima intends to spend .several weeks in the Dominion studying the country’s commercial potentialities. He has lived in the United States and then Australia for many years.

Mr Nagashima said that New Zealand trade per captain warranted an extension of her commerce to fields hitherto not wholly explored by her. There were chances for her to trade move extensively in the Far East, which was still not properly aware of her entity as a seperate nation with a place in the Pacific. It was remarkable that even yet there were many in the East who believed Australia and New Zealand were one and the same country, and people from New Zealand were still referred to as Australians. This lack of understanding was not • good for the Dominion. If she had more individuality the chances of extending trade would be greater. It was clear that at present the country was not taking advantage of the unlimited scope which the East offered. Japan wa.s anxious to extend her trade with New Zealand and efforts were being made by business houses there to establish a better connection, between the two countries for their mutual advantage. Although his firm was not a shipping concern in the strict sense of the term, it was prepared to send cargo vessels to New Zealand if tho trade was offering. Mr Nagashima said it had been suggested that Dominion ports should he included permanently in the itinerary of Japanese freighters, am 1 there was no reason why this should not he done. Even so, those from Janan who had visited New Zealand had returned greatly impressed with its progress, and the advanced state of its national services and private enterprise. With a population e'

about 1,500,n0n New Zealand was conducting services which would he ticenvv of countries with ten times he population. Tn addition, her trade facilities were to ho wondered at considering her population and its scattered nature. Tt appeared that New Zealand’s tariffs were not insuperable to Japanese traders. Tliev were look-:-.-r tn her more and more in view r Australia’s almost prohibitive protective Customs harrier erected to prevent- imports, and so restore- her weak economic state. Tn spite of the fact New- Zealand wool had boon sob 1 at- low prices tl.js season. Japan would not benefit to nearly the same extent as England, America, and the ConUnent. The woollen trade was not in a particularly sound condition in Japan at present, which meant Flint she would not he able to take advantage of tho lower purchase prices for the raw material.