TRADE WITH AMERICA.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 April 1921, Page 2

TRADE WITH AMERICA.

SCOPE FOR DEVELOPMENT. QUESTION OF THE TARIFF. The United States Consul-General for New Zealand:, Mr. D. F. Wilber, who has succeeded Mr. A. A. Winslow, arrived in Auckland this week from Wellington, and intends remaining there until suitable premises can be secured nn Wellington, whither it has been decided to transfer the consulate. Mr. Wilber stated that the most important duty he would have to perform would be to footer business between the Dominion and the United States. There was ample scope for a considerable trade between the two countries, and his aim would be to assist this in every way possible.

Asked •what effect the protective legislation foreshadowed by the United States Administration would have upon the export of primary products from New Zealand to America, Mr. Wilber said he did not know anything about what his Government proposed in this direction. He was certain, however, that the United States would not discriminate between New Zealand products and those from other countries. Personally he did not think the protective tariff would amount to very much. He admitted that a duty on New Zealand produce exported to America would mean it might have to be sold at prices higher than was paid for similar products of local origin, but so far as mutton and lamb were concerned this would not affect the market, for the reason that these would be imported during the American winter when local supplies were bare. Years ago production of foodstuffs in the United States was equal to the demand, but the growth of population had outstripped primary production, and the people had been compelled to import large quantities of articles of food. “Therefore,” said Mr. Wilber, “it does not seem to matter a great deal what prices they have to pay so long as they want what this country has to export.'* Continuing, he stated that he would assist importers in this country to do business with America. Speaking with reference to industrial conditions in Europe, Mr. Wilber said the chief trouble appeared to him to be that the people were not producing enough, and while this state of affairs obtained they could not expect their international credit to improve. On the contrary, it would become worse. It was well known shat they were continuing a policy of extravagance, and while this lasted they could not hope to improve their position.