EASTERN MARKETS FOR DOMINION

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5319, 4 February 1947, Page 2

EASTERN MARKETS FOR DOMINION

" — . ' NO MORE MADE = BOMBAY AGENCY EXPivESSES ' ITSELF FIREELY. Surprise that New Zealand is not taking adivantage of opportunities of establishing export markets in the East is expressed in a letter received by the secretary of the Canterbury Manufacturers' Associaftion (Mr. R. T. Alston) from. a Bombay commercial agency. The letter compares the diifficulty «f getting exports from> New Zealand, which suffered no war damage, with the export drive of the United Kingdom. After drawing attention to ,the frequent statement of INiew 'Zealand firms that they are unable to meet even the New Zealand demand, the letter says: — "If the answer is not in this strain then it is to the effect that at the present time licenses for the export of goods from New Zealand are not freely available, and that, in any case, were they available, the prospects of exporting would be small indeed, due to the fact that there are no shipping facilities.

"You will appreciate that sueh letters are indeed disappointing and make the opportunities of placing New Zealand goods on the'Indian market less and less probahle. It is a source of wonderment to us to receive such replies, particularly that of not having , sufficient goods to supply the New Zealand demands. "Throughout the war, Great Britain was heavily bombed, her industries - were severely damaged, and her people were very sparsely rationed, yet mnder the auspices of various Government departments there are such^things as 'Britain Gan Make 'It,' 'Britain Can j Export It,' and 'Britain Will Supply i You' exhi'bitions. With it all, the peo- j ple of Great Britain are perhaps more j severely rationed to-day than during j the war, but they are making a very determined and successful effoi*t not only to recover previo-us markets but to establish new ones. "To the best of Our knowledge, New ; Zealand suffered no sueh industrial [ losses during the v/ar, and for this j reason, therefore, we cannot under- i stand why the country appears to he indifferent to exporting and creating an export trade. Sufffce it to say that if the opportunities are not taken now k of establishing connections they will - become more difficult if not impossible in a year's time. "We shall appreciate hearing, therefore, if there is a likelihood in the neai future, of there heing some change of attitude either among exporters, would-be exporters, the Government, or shipping 'companies, and w'hethev the prospect of obtaining goods from NeW Zealand freely and in adequate quantities are at all likely."