FRANCE AND N.Z.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10614, 12 June 1920, Page 6

FRANCE AND N.Z.

ECONOMIC RELATIONS REPORT OF MISSION TO DOMINION. Under the title of “The Economic Relations between France and Now Zealand,” there has been published a comprehensive report of the French Mission which visited the Dominion in Decehiber, 1918, and January, 1919. Having dealt generally with various phases of life in New Zealand, the report goes on to state, inter alia: — “With respect to the methods that we should adopt for extending our business, a large reform is, ou the other hand, desirable. As wc remarked above, wo ought to establish direct communication. On all sides we heard the wish expressed of seeing France directly represented by agencies for exhibiting our goods to customers. Doubtless it would be difficult to secure Frenchmen for this purpose, but that is not necessary. On the contrary, it will be easy for French exporters to obtain local agents in New Zealand. The important tiling would be to select them with discretion, but wc could rely for good advice in this connection not only or. our Consulate in the bui on the Chambers of Commerce and xlu banks of New Zealand, whom we have found so well disposed towards France and ready to help us in this particular,”

Touching on the question <of Now Zealand’s Customs tariff, the report remarks that the principle of Imperial preference has acquired, as it were, a statutory obligation—corresponding tc the sincere and openlyM?xpresscd loyalty of the people. But yert there la nothing, as we have said, to hinder the making of commercial treaties oatween New Zealand and foreign Powers! • No use has up to tho present time been made of this possibility. The only commercial agreement as yet entered into is that with South Africa, conferring on tho latter tome advantages in respect of certain' good: which even England herself does -rol enjoy. But this case, we must not forget, concerns an agreement withir the British Empire. One sees, therefore, in that in spite of the natural protectionism of -New Zealand, flu possibility, and even the desirability, of catering into commercial treaties is recognised. Considering the excellent. relations and tile friendliness of a very special kind that have sprung up with Franco as a result of tho war, it. is certainly to be wished that the. two countries should, hi the near future, como to some agreement with regard to trade that will admit of a large and reciprocal expansion. The report -gives a list of tho products which are of special interest as regards France’s export .trade to New Zealand, as follow.: —Textiles and wearing apparel, woollen tissues, silks, cottolls, gloves, lace and embroidery, flowers afid feathers, linen, corsets, furs, socks and stockings, machinery, wire, smooth and barbed, water and gaa pipes, motor-cars, pneumatic tyres, paper and stationery, wad papers, chemicals and pharmaceutical productions, scientific instruments, glass and hardware, tiles, ironmoncry, perfumery, musical instruments, pipes and smokers 1 requisites, wines, champagnes and liqueurs, fertilisers, seeds. In reference to what it terms tho future of Franco-New Zealand friendshiji, the report states: “The most practical .means of rendering our position permanent, will be by developing commercial relatione. We have said this many lui'-«. already in tho promg pages, and we repeat it as wo nine to their conclusion. As tho proverb I'Uns, ‘cinort reckonings make long friends’ ; and if it he true that ‘trade’ follows the’ flag,’ is it not natural that ft should follow rhe victorious standards of Allied nations? Never have the conditions been, nor will they be aglain, so favouralblo to the efforts which we can now make in this respect. There is much to he done, for New Zealand is capable of becoming not only an important source of supplies, but also a good customer. Yet it wall bo necessary to push our way. Wo have indicated the methods required for success and now we must pursue them. Doubtless wc shall not be able to do so as much as We could wish. The establishment of direct communication of which the Germans had seen the necessity. and whoso beneficial effects would" soon make themselves felt, will probably remain a difficulty. And, besides, it is not likely to ho easy' to set up in New Zealand one of those commercial bureaux which tho Government regards as of great utility in encouraging the sale of our productions. But tho consulate is .willing to redouble its activities on behalf of closer contact between the" buyers and seller: who too often are insufficiently known to each other. The commercial community in New Zealand and. the local banks will cordially assist in the same direction, as we have been well assured. . . . England,, under whose august patronage the policy of New Zealand finds its own expression, views with entire favour the newly-arisen intimacy between the Dominion and France. Is it not then permissible to hope that when our Government reorganises its Customs relations with the outer world, it will ho willing to include New Zealand among the countries with which it should establish a regime of close economic friendship?”