The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times MONDAY, JULY 11, 1932. TRADE WITH EAST.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1932, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times MONDAY, JULY 11, 1932. TRADE WITH EAST.

With all the, nations extending every possible means of increasing their production capacity, the necess-ty for finding .fresh markets ior the increased products i 3 becoming a more and more urgent call upon those responsible fqr the finding of suitable markets. Jn this connection interesting .figures were given to the recent Union Conference on the possibilities'of trade with the Far East At the present time it was stated that New Zealand is sending 80 per cent of her export goods to Europe, about as far aw,ay as we can get, and next to Australia, which is out nearest neighbour,' ten days away by a. fast cargo steamer, is Eastern Asia, where l we have an unlimited market. Imperial preference, shipping facilities, pro-British sentiment, and other political considerations bad completely blotted out natural and geographical considerations. A very small increase, of trade per bead with these people would provide us with an enormous market. Last year our exports to China amounted to £36,000. If only one in a hundred of the population had bought that worked. out at 2d per head. China and; Japan never would be able to supply their own personal products, and there were ’ great industrial progress being, made there. In the cities of Japan i the men went to business clad in the tweeds of the Western world, and the villagers would follow their example. Japan was ‘also adopting Western foods and'China was more..’; slowly adapting lierself' to Western ’ f habits. It, is worse than foolish to 'perpetub ate the prejudices against our Asiatic neighbours. In addition to China, there were Chinese merchants through-, out the Western Pacific/ The, Chinese market is primarily an emotional one. Everything depends on what they think of the people With whom 'they are asked to, trade. The k6.V' to the trade situation in China is Shanghai. This is the most important manur factoring. and industrial centre, and jls among the ten most'' important ports of the world. The speaker said that the best wav to stimulate trade with China would be the, establishment of a New Zealand woollen mill in Shanghai, and the time was now opportune to do so. We could not wait for the market to come to us. The subject was. one worthy of more thnn passing attention There is an urgent need to, push trade where and whenever possible and this market if proj perly attended to may have great potentialities.