RECIPROCITY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1746, 10 May 1913, Page 6

RECIPROCITY.

MR. FISHER'S MISSION. AGREEMENT WITH AUSTRALIA SIGNED, DEFENCE, CUSTOMS & OTHER MATTERS. (By Tolegraph.—Prera Association.! Auckland, Hay 9. Tho ITon. F. M. 13. Fisher, Minister for Customs and Marine, returned from Australia to-day by tho Niagara. Questioned as to the result of his mission, Mr. Fisher was very reticent, but remarked: "I want to say most emphatically that I am not going to attempt to discuss the reciprocal agreement in any of its details." "Is tho agreement signed?" Mr. Fisher was asked. "Yes," ho roplied, "it is signed, and I have fully discussed it with Mr. Andrew Fisher, Prime Minister, since Mr. Tudor and I completed it. Tho agreement has first to bo considered by tho respective Cabinets, and then the schedules will be submitted to the two Parliaments simultaneously." ,) Asked if the agreement was as extensive as the agreement made by tho late Mr. Seddon, Mr. Fisher replied:—"Yes, quite, but I prefer not to discuss either its dimensions or its value just at present." Reciprocal Old Age Pensions. "What other matters have you dealt with?" "I have been able to satisfactorily conclude tho agreement with tlio Commonwealth Prime Minister under which both countries agree to enter into a joint arrangement whereby old age pensions may henceforth bo drawn by persons who have resided in Australasia long enough to qualify for a pension, under the laws of the country in which tho applicant is residing. For the purpose of calculating the pension, residence in cither country shall bo deemed to be residence in the country in which the applicant has resided for twelve months immediately preceding his application. Under the existing laws a man or woman may have been a resident of Australia for nineteen years, and of New Zealand for twenty-four years, and yot, after a total of forty-three years' residence and useful citizenship, be debarred from the benefits of either Act. lam very glad indeed to have this matter settled. Legislation will ba necessary, but I think both Parliaments will ratify tho agreement without any difficulty.

Facilitating Trade Relations. "Another matter upon which an agreement has been arrived at is ono to facilitate fa-ado and remove as far as possible harassing restrictions at pre-i eent hampering shippers of produce. An agreement was arrived at alter considerable discussion, and will, in due course, be laid before Parliament. During my visit, the Secretary of tho Now Zealand Customs (Mr. Montgomery) went carefully through our Customs law with Mr. Lockyer, Controller of the Federal Customs, and alterations wero noted which will-bo dealt with during the coming session, so bringing about much more equality and uniformity between tho Customs laws of . the two countries. "A conference was held also between Mr. G. E. Foster, Minister for Trade for Canada, Mr. »Tudor, Commonwealth Minister for Trade nnd Customs, and myEelf, relating to trade relationship between tho three countries. The position was somewhat complicated, and I am not at present at to state precisely how matters stand. When I say that '.matters are somewhat complicated I mean that the slipshod method of granting preferential tariffs has produced somewhat of a commercial tangle. New Zealand made a reciprocal agreement with South Africa, in which she deliberately slammed the door in Australia's face, and Australia retaliated by gtnnting preference to Great Britain, which excluded New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa. Canada, again, has granted preference to New Zealand, but has excluded Australia from its benefits, so a real conception of Empiro partnership has been ig-nored, and we have found members of one family trying to score off each other. Ono may readily understand it is not easy to try and unravel this tangled commercial skein, hut it is satisfactory to know in the meantime that a great advance has been made. I took advantage also of the opportunity of having n conversation with Australia's Prime Minister and discussing the matter of coinage. Tho question is one <which will havo to be settled by the Legislature, but I don't see any obstacles that cannot be easily removed by a little mutual understanding and friendly arrangement."

Lighting the Three Kings. Auckland, May 9. "During my visit I did not omit to liavo several interviews with Commander Brewis (who controls the lighthouses on coast) with reference to th'o problem of efficiently lighting tho Tlireo Kings, and information which he gave me will be most valuable to the New Zealand Marine Department. Continuing, Mr. Fisher said: "I raised the point with Mr. Tudor, Commonwealth Minister for Trado and Customs, of Australia's contributing to the cost of tho lighting of the Three Kings which will bo in a sense an international light as large numbers of Australian ships bound for South America or round Cape Horn pass between tho Three Kings and Caps Maria Van Diemen. Hardly ever less than two, and sometimes as many as fourteen in one week, pass through between tho islands and the mainland, and never touch New Zealand at all. In fact, the light would bo of more real value to Australian shipping than to us and for these reasons, and also considering the fact that it will probably cost more to erect than any light in Australasia, I ventured to Suggest that the Commonwealth Government should help us with half the initial cost. I subsequently interviewed the Prime Minister, Mr. Andrew Fisher, and went fully into the matter. Of course the Federal Ministers were unable to make any definite cdmmitment in the matter as they were busy fighting their elections and the matter would have to go before Cabinet, but I feel sure that later on the Federal Government will see the reasonableness of the proposal and assist us in protecting the shipping that frequents the vicinity of the Threo Kings. Wireless Matters. "Before iny departure for Australia strong representations were made to mo to interview the Federal Government with reference to the retention of the wireless station erected by the Federal Government on Macquavie Islands for the purpose of keeping in touch with tho Mawson Expedition. I saw Mr. Fisher in reference to this matter too, and although ho was unable to make any definite statement upon the subject just now, I think I may safely say that our respective Governments aro ready to ,agreo to a courso that will make tho Maefjiiarie wireless station a permanency. It has proved its value as a nu-teorological station, and as easily worth tho cost of its maintenance." Trado Ministers Confer, Mr. Fisher added that as one of tho results of tho conference of Trade Ministers hold in Melbourne the respective Governments represented thereat would probably decide c:n a conference being held «t which it wa.9 proposed to make as uniform as possiblo the tariffs of all overseas dominions. South Africa and Newfoundland would bo invited to join in the conference. "This proposal did not, of course, 1 refer to the question of duties," said Mr! Fisher. "It was more as a matter of itemising the tariff schedules. At present the classification of tariff items was embarrassing aliko to importers, exporters, and Customs officials. Similar classes of goods exported, aiy, from Great Britain to Canada and New Zealand we.re at present classified and assessed under different headings, and commercial men had the utmost difficulty in ascertaining the amount of duty payablo in the country of import. Similarly the value of each country's import and export returns and sfntistics of production were rendered use-ir-s for ((mipiirativ? purpose* owing in I lie viirvine methods of eommhifioii. h;i> witn tlio object <)T swcwiiiK iiiliformitr in oui statistical pompilatlons and giving

llioin u ronl compnrah'vo value that tho .Ministers tliis subject. Concorning Proprietary Medicines. "Another matter which had lfop.n discussed," said Mi'. Fisher, "was that of Hio variniimis in tho Jaws mpecliiig the importation of proprietary medicine. Tiling wow in a chaotic slato (it present, and there was a mountain of difficulties to be demolished. Manufacturers of proprietary njodicijics obroad found thut ilio laws governing tho sale ol' their goods varied in almost every part ol tho Empire. Not only that, but ill Australia the Federal law conflicted with tho State laws, ami tiio State laws cimllicled with 0110 another. An effort would bo made in future to remove as far as possible tho ol>stacles which aro harassing trade ut present." The Labour Party and Dcfcnce. Mr. Fisher repudiated the assertion that Uio Australian Labour party was not sound on defence. It realised tile price Which must Is? paid for a White Australia.. The Navy was not a jamtni ilect. Tho flagship Australia, duo shortly, was a sister ship to tho New Zealand. Tho cruiser Melbourne was a splendid model of up-to-date shipbuilding, lie liad inspected all Australia's ships and dockvards and naval depots, and was certain, tho day was not far distant when. Australia would not merely repair ships, but would build them. It was hoped that before many months wero past the whole strength of tho Australian unit—from battleship to destroyer—would visit New - Zealand, and demonstrate its real strength and Australia's determination in tli-e matter of naval defence. Tilings gen-rally in Australia wero splendid. What Australia wants badly Is settlers.