TRADE AGREEMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 May 1938, Page 3

TRADE AGREEMENT

NEW ZEALAND AND SWITZERLAND

(By Telegraph—Press Association). WELLINGTON, May 5. Notice of the conclusion of a trade arrangement between New Zealand and Switzerland is published in the Gazette issued this evening. The arrangement, which becomes immediately effective, takes the form of an exchange of notes between the Minister of Customs, the Hon W. Nash, and the Acting-Consul of Switzerland in .-New Zealand, Dr W. Schmid. Referring to the arrangement, in a statement made last evening, Mr Nash said that trade relations between New Zealand and Switzerland had always been most cordial. Unfortunately, the balance of trade between the two countries, as recorded in official statistics, had been largely in favour of Switzerland, and it was with a view primarily to increasing the volume of our export trade with Switzerland that the arrangement had been entered into. Imports into New Zealand of Swiss goods during 1937 amounted to £lBO,943, the principal items of which were watches (£56,300), drapery (£21,608), and silk piece-goods (£15,300). On the other hand direct exports from New Zealand to Switzerland amounted to only £533. It was known, however, that certain quantities of the Dominion’s produce, principally wool, hides and fruit, reached Switzerland through intermediate countries. While specific information as to the total volume of this trade was not available it was estimated that it amounted to approximately £30,000 per annum. “Switzerland is a very small importer of meat, and, in view of her own dairy industry, she does not offer a market for dairy products,” said Mr Nash, “She is a large producer of apples, but requires to import considerable quantities during the period when domestic supplies are not available, and it is in respect of this product that New Zealand hopes to secure a considerable increase in trade. Other classes of goods which may offer limited opportunities for trade are honey, casein, phormium tenax and kauri gum.”