DUTCH EAST INDIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 May 1921, Page 11

DUTCH EAST INDIES.

NEW ZEALAND TRADE PROSPECTS.

SAID TO BE UNLIMITED. Are there prospects for the New Zealand and Australian trade with the Netherlands Indies? There is only one answer to that question—unlimited! The foregoing statement was made to a Dominion reporter by Mr. H. B. C. H. de Bly, of Samarang, Java, who arrived in New Zealand recently after touring Australia. He is a prominent business man in the Dutch East Indies, and considers that the chances for New Zealand enterprise in that part of the world are so wonderful that the Associated Chambers of Commerce in New Zealand should appoint a representative to visit the Indies. “He would be assured of a right royal reception,” added Mr. de Bly. In 1914, Mr. de Bly was in Brussels, and after the capture of that city by the Germans he went to Australia, and later to the East Indies, where he now occupies a’n important position. He thinks that “most certaifily there are chances of reciprocal' trade with the Indies for the New Zealand merchant, and more so for the New Zealand manufacturer.” NEED FOR RECIPROCITY “It seems difficult to realise that so tittle trade is done between the two countries, which both need so much of each other’s products,” he said. “In Java, manufactured articles are wholly imported and nbt locally made. ...I am conscious of the want of knowledge that exists between one country and the other. But little do the people of Java know of New Zealand. And, similarly, what does the public here know of the islands that are virtually their neighbors? For instance, is it generally known that Java, alone, has a population of 40 millions; that, Sumatra and Borneo are at present two most important oil-producing countries; that Celebes is beginning to be one of the principal centres of the copra industry? Probably one hears that the islands are small and inhabited by blacks alone—which is a mistake. It is noticeable that such mistakes are not made by the American trade commissioners who are sent to report on the trade position.” AMERICAN TRADE.

Have the Americans much of a trade footing in the Indies? asked the interviewer.

“They have,” was the reply. “Of late there has been a great increase In American exports tie the Indies. But now is New Zealand’s chance and Australia’s chance. Business transacted with America is now practically at a standstill in view of the exchange rates. These have caused export trade transactions to be prohibited. In my own opinion, the New Zealand exporter generally has failed to realise that it is worth while to expend time and money in developing business relations with the Islands, especially as the exchange relations between Java and New Zealand are normal.”

Relative to his statement that the Dutch* East Indies were not a manufacturing community, Mr. de Bly said that as New Zealand manufacturers were looking for a market for their goods, both countries would benefit by increased commercial relations. “The population of the Indies may be safely estimated at 50,000,000,” he said. “For sake of argument, one may suppose that each inhabitant expends £1 a year in clothing and the like. That means a pretty considerable sum by the end of a year. The days when the natives worked for almost nothing are of the past. To-day there is hardly a man who does not earn more than £2 5s a month. In Java there are nearly 200 sugar factories, and the natives there receive £4 a month, some getting as much as £lO a month. So you see they have something to spend. Why shouldn’t New Zealand get a share of it?” A PROGRESSIVE COUNTRY. According to The Dominion’s inforincnt, Java is a country with progress as the watchword. He states that most of the towns are lit by electricity, and the principal centres have efficient sewerage and water systems. “Every sugar factory in Java,” he said, “possessed approximately £lOO,OOO worth of machinery, and the accessories to this machinery are always needed. Java boasts of over 20,000 running automobiles, and this means, apart from the cars themselves, that a vast quantity of accessories and articles is required... .The best of ladies’ apparel, and boots, leatherware, clothing, machinery, and agricultural implements and hundreds of other articles of commerce are in requisition in the wealthy Indies, where current prices are well in advance of those existing at present in New Zealand, despite these days of high living.” In conclusion, Mr. de Bly said that he would be pleased to do anything in his power to assist in bringing the countries closer together. “The progressiveness of the New Zealanders ought to be a guarantee that they are capable of building up a big export trade, the opportunities for which lie practically at their gates,” he added.