RECIPROCAL TRADE

Evening Post, Issue 126, 29 May 1936, Page 9

RECIPROCAL TRADE

AUSTRALIA AND N.Z.

CONFERENCE AT CANBERRA

CANBERRA, May 28.

Reciprocal trade with* New Zealand was discussed by the Agricultural Council today. • Mr. W. Taylor, New Zealand Trade Commissioner, is preparing a full report of the deliberations for the Dominion Government.

Recalling efforts for lifting the New Zealand embargo on Australian citrus fruits, Mr. H. V. C. Thorby, Acting Minister of Commerce, said that Australia's fruit trade with New Zealand had dropped from £182,904 in 1931-32 to £61,462 in 1933-34, with only a slight increase in the following' year. The Commonwealth had urged the lifting of the restrictions for a short period each year in respect of citrus fruits, cherries, grapes, and passion fruit, and had guaranteed that no fruit would be exported unless accompanied by a certificate of freedom from fruitfly. He added that although the quantities of New Zealand apples imported to Australia since March.2s were not large, the mere fact of permitting their admission to Australia was an indication of good faith which would no doubf be appreciated by the New Zealand Government.

Mr. Taylor, interviewed later, said that these conferences were rapidly paving the way for a better understanding among producers in Australian States, as well as with New Zealand. The ( discussions on dairying would be of considerable interest to New Zealand, where the problems were parallel to those of Australia.

Mr. Taylor was a speaker at a.luncheon to delegates tendered by the Com-; monwealth Government. He said'that, the feeling, towards Australia was more friendly in the Dominion than was generally imagined. ■• As Tourist Officer he was amazed at the number of New Zealand tourists continually pouring into Australia, the majority being women who came to Sydney for a good holiday.