RECIPROCITY WITH AUSTRALIA.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14835, 28 November 1913, Page 4

RECIPROCITY WITH AUSTRALIA.

THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT

(SPECIAL TO "THE TRESS.") WELLINGTON, November 27. A reference was made by Mr G. W. Russell to-day to the reciprocal treaty with Australia, which was arranged by the Minister of Customs (the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher), iluring his visit to Mcl r bourne a few months ago. He wished to know why the Government had not dared to tell the House what the treaty contained. The Prime Minister: We cannot tell the House without the consent of the Australian Government. Mr Russell: But you can tell the House what it contains. When, tho Minister returned from Australia the Government found that he had put thu Ministry "in the soup," and that was why nothing more had been heard of the matter. The excuse was made that there had been a change of Government in Australia, but he woxtld ask the Government whether it had asked the present Australian Government to ratify the treaty. Mr Massey: We have had communications with them.

The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher said that although the treaty had been arranged, a change of Governments had taken place in Australia, and that Ministry had a majority of only one. Tho fault was that parliamentary business there had been practically paralysed. He had made repeated requests to the present Commonwealth Government in regard to the treaty, but ho had not succeeded in getting any action taken. It had not oven been possible to-get the Australian Government to deal with the Reciprocal Pension Act, which hacl been passed in New Zealand. Tho contents of tho draft of the reciprocal treaty were confidential, and of course could not be disclosed.