RECIPROCAL TARIFF.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1671, 11 February 1913, Page 10

RECIPROCAL TARIFF.

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND INFORMATION WANTED, Reciprocal trade with Australia, was one of tho most important questions which cropped up at yesterday's meeting, of tho Council of tho Wellington Chamber of Commerce. Tho subject was introduced by (lie receipt of a series of resolutions passed by a conference of delegates of South 'Island Chambers of Commerce hold in .Christchurch on December, 12. ,

The conference requested that tho Chamber should consider them witlr a view to their adoption. This was not done.

In tho middle of a desultory discussion, Mr. C. Jones asked that tho council should consider the first resolution, which ho entirely disagreed with. He' believed that as tho two countries had similar labour laws and conditions that freo trade would bo good for both. He did not think there was much to be feared from a. free intSfchange of products and manufactures, though in respect to tho latter Australia might bo a little ahead of us. The fact that there was a high productive tariff against our produce indicated quite another feeling. Olancing over tho list of resolutions from tl/o Christchurch conferenco, it struck him that each seemed to be the idea of an individual or ' represent an individual ill-' terest, instead of having a general consideration for tho good of the country as a whole. Ho would liko to seo the Chamber take up tho question properly, as it was/certainly one of tho most important which had ever come before them since ho had been a member. He thought tile Chamber should take evidence on tho question, and so give a lead.. ■'Mr. A. S. Biss asked what the Government was doing in tho matter. The chairman. said it was to bo considered during' tho coming session.. Mr. Biss said that perhaps they had better find out what the Government was doing beforo tho Chamber took it up. Perhaps they had 1 a mass of evidence already. ; Mr. "A. Leigh Hunt disagreed with Mr. Jones that free trade between the twocountries was altogether desirable, and Mr. F.'W. Mauton questioned that the manufacturers of Australia were ahead of those of New Zealand. • , Finally it was decided that a letter be forwarded to the Government asking what steps, if any, had been taken in connection with'the consideration of a reciprocal tariff with Australia, and suggesting that evidence be taken, on the subject as affecting tho various iinterests.