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New Zealand's Policy May Improve Chances of U.K. Exporters T HE

13th January 1939
Page 78
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Page 78, 13th January 1939 — New Zealand's Policy May Improve Chances of U.K. Exporters T HE
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

latest trade returns cover the calendar year 1936 and show imports of " lorries, trucks, vans, buses and chassis therefore, completely knocked dozen," as follow: It is to be borne in mind that the values, unlike the Australian values which have been expressed in terms of sterling, are expressed in New Zealand currency, the corresponding sterling values being about 80 per cent. thereof. In addition the values include 10 per cent, added to the fair market value in the country of export to..eover freight, insurance, etc. The figures given for the United Kingdom would therefore be equivalent to aggregate f.o.b. figures of approximately 2300,000 (from £409,760) And 2,50,000 (from 266,170).

United Kingdom commercial vehicles enjoy a substantial preference over those of Canada and the U.S.A. It is feared that the opportunities afforded by the New Zealand market to United Kingdom exporters may, as a result of the recent import restrictions put into force at the beginning of December, be found to have been restricted, at any rate for a period, although it is, of course, much too early to attempt to foreshadow the likely trend of future trade.

It seems probable that, with a closer bilateral balancing of trade between New Zealand and the countries with which she conducts her trade—and this is apparently the policy underlying the exchange control regulations—the opportunities enjoyed by the U.S.A. and Canada in New Zealand will be relatively much more reduced than those of the United Kingdom, since in the past New Zealand, in her trading with those two countries, has normally had a large adverse balance of trade.

In the long period, therefore, if the total import of commercial vehicles into New Zealand be not unduly restricted in• the interests of general economy, it seems possible that sales of United Kingdom commercial vehicles to New Zealand may actually increase. The situatkin deserves, in any case, to be carefully watched.

British Guiana's New Roads Will Encourage Imports.

TN British Guiana some excellent new 'roads may lead to the rapid opening up of this forest Colony to motor traffic for its industries and for tourist visitors to the Kaieteur, the world's highest waterfall.

Improved Service Needed in British West Indies.

I N Trinidad, where the products of the petroleum industry furnish excellent road-surfacing material, the importation of high-class motor vehicles from the United Kingdom has led to considerable development, both in the bus services and the feeder services to the railway. In Jamaica in 1936 motorcars and cominercial vehicles together accounted for just over 4 per cent, of the total import trade, with a value of £211,335. In 1937 this figure increased to £251,117, of which commercial vehicles amounted in value to £85,339.

Altogether, 509 motor vehicles were imported, shared between Canada (263), U.S.A. (126), United Kingdom (104), and Germany (16). In many of the smaller island colonies, however, the roads are still narrow and not always well surfaced, with the result that regulations preclude the use of the heavier types of lorry.

Throughout the West Indies attention is being given to an improvement in the service facilities. It is in this direction that much can yet be done for the future progress of United Kingdom motor vehicles.

Public May Demand Road Transport in Bermuda.

A LTHOUGH the use of motorcars

and motor vehicles in general is still prohibited by law in Bermuda, government and municipal vehicles have always been allowed. The number of these two classes is growing and certain kinds of private motor vehicle, such as tractors for heavy haulage, are now allowed to use the roads. The rapidly increasing use of motor vehicles in Bermuda, according to Mr. Bushell (Bushell's Handbook) must result in time in a demand for their general use by the public of Bermuda. The attempts made to introduce motorbuses, however, have so far been unsuccessful.