to Australia

N.Z. Trade Diverted to Australia

THERE has been some concern recently in Islands trading circles in New Zealand over the fact that much of the Fiji trade formerly enjoyed by the Dominion has been diverted to Aus tralia. Dealing with this decline, the Suva Chamber of Commerce states that the main factors responsible are the higher price of N.Z. manufactured goods and Australia’s advantage with shipping facilities.

There was a boom in New Zealand goods in 1931-32 as the result of a pre ferential tariff extended by Fiji when Australia shut out her bananas; but that concession was abandoned under the Ottawa Agreement and N.Z. goods went into Fiji on the same footing as Australian products. Under the prefer ential tariff the following goods were im ported from N.Z. in fairly large quan tities:—Biscuits, boots and shoes, bran, confectionery, fruits, jams, leather, milk, manures, pickles, paints and soaps. With the removal of the preference these are now imported from Australia.

Fiji imported goods from Aus tralia valued at £317,046 and from N.Z. goods valued at £100,255. In 1936 im ports from Australia were valued at £514,504. and from N.Z. £56,870. Fijian exports to Australia also increased from £50,098 in 1932 to £241,564 in 1936.

To some extent Australia supplies p-oods to Fiji which N.Z. cannot supply.

These include coal, wheat products and manufactured tobacco, which in 1936 were valued at £124,381. New Zealand also cannot supply the light varieties of beers and ales imported from Australia.