Mr Ward's Tour.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 187, 7 February 1895, Page 2

Mr Ward's Tour.

RECIPROCITY WITH SOUTH AUSTRALIA. tPer Press Association). Melbournk, February 6. Under the treaty between South Australia and New Zealand the latter may import into Adelaide barley, oats, horses, hops, and Adelaide send to New Zealand wines, salt, olive oil, fresh and dried fruits, duty free. The Treaty comes into force on May Ist, though possibly the date may be extended to July Ist, in order to allow Parliaments of either colony to ratify same. In the case of terms being ratified the Treaty will run for seven years. One of the provisions is that similar concessions may not be granted by either contracting party to any other colony during its currency. According to Mr Ward, the remission of duties, apart from fruits, taking last year as a basis, means to New Zealand about £14,000. Adelaide, Feb. 7. Mr Ward and Mr Playford had many interviews before they could arrange the basis of a treaty. On the face of it the proposals are considered favorable to South Australia, but the Treasurer says it is difficult to see what the remission of duty means to the local colony because the lines dealt with do not come direct by way of New Zealand but by way of other colonies to which they are credited. The treaty is regarded as a j first instalment of Frectrade, and the best practical proof of federal sentiments. Mr Ward said that the negotiations had been going on a long time between the two colonies. Mr Ward in course of an interview said that last year New Zealand imported from South Australia •21,000 gallons of wine, 1,900 from New South Wales, and 14,000 from Victoria. These paid a duty of £9,200 so that the proposal meant Adelaide would take over the whole of the Victorian exports of wine to New Zealand. There would also be a very considerable increase in the trade in salt and olive oil, taking articles for which New Zealand was to have a free market in Australia. Last year his Colony exported over 12,000 bushels of oats.