N.Z. COMMISSIONER

Hokitika Guardian, 3 April 1933, Page 4

N.Z. COMMISSIONER

MR SCHMITT BUSY IN SYDNEY,

•ADVERTISING THE DOMINION,

x'l 'er Press Association — Copyright

WELLINGTON, April 1. Personal contact with .commercial and other interests in Wellington has been made during the last week by the New Zealand Trade Commissioner m .Australia, Mr L. J. iSchrnitt, who i-s visiting the Dominion, and it is hi® intention to get in touch with traders in other centres during the next fort-night-or three weeks before ho returns to Sydney. He stated the business of the Sydney t office L expanding continually. During A J the last year, New Zealand’s trade , v with Australia increased by mor e than 20 per cent, the value of the goods«okl to the (CjOinmonwealth bein&# £1,445,000, compared with £1,169,000v during the preceding 12 months. O* l the other 'nand AnsUalia’g sales to New Zealand increased from £2,431,000 to. \£2,681,000. Every conceivable form of 'business on behalf 0 f New. .Zealand w's put through the Sydney office, said Mr Schmitt. There were, 25,000 New] . Zealanders in Sydney, and a. total of'y, 50,000 lived in Australia apart from the hundreds who visited the Commonwealth each year, and who made much of the Trade Commissioner’s Office. The Sydney office did a great deal of work for practically every New Zealand department °i State, Publicity work.took up a great deal of time. During last 1 year, M? Schmitt visited every State in the Commonwealth, except Western Australia, giving lectures and broader sting upon, Now Zealand. Last, year he. gave 50 radio talks, and this year he has given about 20 go. far. Although the final figures, are not available, the .office did record tourist business during the financial year just ended. Every endeavour is being made to cater for the wants of Australians desiring to visit New Zealand, and i fc was a noticeable fact that mor e advantage was being taken of the facilities offered by the tourist department through the Sydney office. ' Mr Schmitt referred to the number of penniless New Zealanders who went to th e Sydney office for assistance. He advises all crossing the W Tasman to make sure that they have the return fare, if they have any intention of coming back.