RECIPROCITY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1852, 5 September 1906, Page 3

RECIPROCITY.

PRESS ASSOCIATION

Auckland, laat night. A mooting of the Auckland Chamber of Ocmmerco was hold yosiordny for tho pur pose of oonsidoring matters iu oonnootion with the reciprocal troaty with Australia. Tho following resolution was carried : “ That while supporting tho prinoiplo of

reeiprooity, wo protost against tho bringing into foroo of tho ptoposod treaty. It fails to opon tho doors of tho Australian Slates So our natural products. It will ruin our i wheat-growing and milling industries. It iroroases taxation by unnecessarily raising dutios on many att'oloa of ovory day consumption. It fails to exempt tho Mothor Country and sister o ilouios from its provisions, nud it proposes to remit duiios on sugar to tho extent of £200,000 iu favor of Australia, without any gunrantoo of our proplo bciug relieved of taxation adoquato to this loss of rovonue.” Tbo Auckland Fruitgrowers’ Union sent tho following telegram tn tho Premior : 11 Auckland Fruitgrowers’ Union respect-

ful y protests against the proposed oouoossious in tho reciprocal tariff re grapes and other fruits, a'so tho extension of tho

period ro apples nud pears.” The following reply was recoivod : “ Tho whole matter will bo investigated and your re-

presentations givon tho fullest considora tion.”

A meeting of wholesale morohnuts was held yesterday at tho Chamber of Commerce rooms to consider tho tariff proposed under the rc-o’procal troaty, and tho following resolution was passed : 11 Wo pretest against tho ratifiantiou by Parlia me-nt of tho proposed reciprocal tariff bo

tween the Commonwealth of Australia and New Z inland. In our opinion the proposed reduction of sugar would bo a huge m'stake, in that wo should bo at tbo meioy of the sugar refinors of Australia;

that while the revenue would lose £200,000 a yen-, tho consumer would not derive any corresponding benefit f;om tho concession, and our local works would bo o'osod down and rnaDy bauds thrown out of employ-

ment ; that in raising tbo tariff on many

lines to countries outside Australia and New Z<alond, tho Mother Country and sistercolonies should have been exempted.”

Special to the Times. Wellington, last night,

Mr Thomas Mackenzie was to-day elected chairman of the Commerce Ormmitfee. Tho reciprocity troaty is to engige its immediate attention, and already tho chairman has reoeived telegrams from all parts of New Zealand asking that tho evidence of their several interests be board A fortnight’s extension of timo has been asked in order that Iho fullest opportunity be given to investigate tbo whole question. The Committee does not purpose summoning witnesses, but will be pletsed to hear the evidence of delegates chosen by tho various associations, and it is hoped that eaoh interest wi'l voice their wishes through one representative, thus avoiding duplioatioa and waato of timo.