TRADE EXPANSION.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 396, 1 April 1937, Page 5

TRADE EXPANSION.

N.Z. AND BRITAIN. Mr. Nash’s Inquiries. (Special. —By Air Mail). London, March 12. Discussions with the port authority and merchants of Manchester and an examination of the handling and marketing facilities for New Zealand produce are being conducted by the Minister of Finance and Minister of Marketing, Mr Walter Nash, with a view to improving the Dominion’s trade with this important industrial area. The importance of Manchester ®s a distributive centre for New Zealand produce is fully realised by the Minister. Industrial lancashire employs one-fifth of the United Kingdom’s workers and make) one-sixth of its manufactured goods. Within a radius of 75 miles of Manchester there it' a population of 14,700,000, which is great er by more than 500,000 than the population within any comparable area in the United Kingdom, including that centred oti London It is commonly thought in New Zealand that Lancashire is wholly devoted to cotton, but thia is not so - Onetenth of the workers of the county are employed in 26 .leading British industries other than cotton. “Magnificent Add'ess.” Mr. Nash arrived in Manchester from London on Tuesday evenin'*, when he was chief guest at the annual dinner of the Provision Exchange, and in what was described by a subsequent speaker as “a magnificent and moving adddress,” proposed the toast of the trade and commerce of the city and port of Manchester. Mr. Nash's speech was in the form of a review of the history and achievements of Manchester, which, he said, had rendered and was rendering a real contribution to the development and progress of the world. Speaking of trade, the Minister said that New Zealand had done something to help to bring goods to Manchester. In 1930 the total tonnage that came to Manchester direct from til 3 Dominion was 4337; in 1931, 7104; 1132, 12,784; 1933, 23,224; 1934, 23,593; 1 >35, 18,829; 1936, 22,320. If Manchester could provide facilities and the market for New Zealand produce in ti e same economical way that it could give in any other form, then the Dominion wished to send goods to Manchester. "I advised the corpany,” said the Minister In a Press interview, “that whatever is the most economic way of shipping and markeliig New Zealand produce in Manchester would be adopted. I have arranged for the case showing the facilities provided by the Ship Canal Company to be put in writing, and for ils nubuequent consideration by the managers of the primary products departments in London for decision l>y the New* Zealand Government.”

Marketing Dominion Produce. The remainder of the day Mr, Nash devoted to discussions with businessmen upon the general marketing procedure of New Zealand produce A conference with representatives of the Joint Committee of the Cotton Trade organisations and the textile

institutes of Manchester was also held. Mr. Nash discussed the procedure which could be followed for expanding the trade of the United Kingdom with New Zealand in cotton goods, and, in particular, what steps should be taken to meet certain competition at present being experienced by Lancashire. The Minister gave a full statement of the New Zealand Government’^ 1 policy, and said that where unjust practices were operating the Joint Committee could' be assured that the Dominion would take any steps possible to remove them Another conference was held with members of the Chamber of Commerce on trade matters in general. The Minister expressed his appreciation of the friendly spirit that has been so evident in all the meetings, and the personal contacts he had made with representatives of Lancashire trade during the day.