TRADE WITH U.S.A.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 January 1939, Page 8

TRADE WITH U.S.A.

RETURNING COMMISSIONER URGES TREATY LEAD GIVEN BY BRITAIN & CANADA. SURVEY OF PROSPECTS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, January 23. The expediency of New Zealand endeavouring to arrange a trade ’treaty with the United States at the earliest possible moment was emphasised by Mr J. W. Collins, former New Zealand Trade and Tourist Commissioner to Canada and the United States, who returned by the Awatea. Before his appointment eight years ago, Mr Collins was head of the Department of Industries and Commerce for nearly ten years. Mr Collins and his wife intend to settle permanently, in New Zealand.

After referring to the growth of trade between New Zealand and Canada, Mr Collins said that the 1939 returns would probably show a sharp decline, due to domestic products, particularly wheat, being at very low values, thus affecting general purchasing power, but prospects indicated that the slump would be of a temporary nature, as well-informed opinion predicted that Canada,was facing one of the golden eras of business for the next few years, regardless of affairs abroad. New Zealand’s trade relations with America were equally satisfactory, despite temporary recessions.

Commenting on the fact that the United Kingdom and Canada had entered into trade agreements with the United; States Mr Collins expressed a sincere hope that New Zeadand would without undue delay seek a like agreement. Canada had been granted reductions on 129 items, largely in agricultural products. Mr Nash had visited Washington in 1937, and the able case put forward for closer relations had been examined by .the State Department at Washington and it was now expedient that the matter should be further explored and if possible a treaty consummated.

The tourist traffic outlook was also most encouraging, Mr Collins said, and it was expected that the summer season should prove a record so far as visits from Canada and the United States to New Zealand were concerned.

Since leaving Toronto in June last, Mr Collins has been in Europe, the Far East and Australia.