RECIPROCAL TREATY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1876, 4 October 1906, Page 3

RECIPROCAL TREATY.

CONDEMNED BY PREMIER AND MR MASSEY. AN ADVERSE REPORT.

PRESS ASSOCIATION

Wellington, last night. In tho House of Representatives this evening, in regard to tbe adoption of the report of the Reciprocity Treaty, the hon. Premier moved : ‘'That in adopting tbe report this House desires to expreis its Appreciation of the eminent publio service

rendered by Mr Dankm at d the late Mr

Stddon in their effort to establish trade reoiprcciiy between the Commonwealth and New Zealand, and hopes that a eohtmo may yet be devised wbioh will be sati-fioiory to both oouctrirs.” The Premier said he proposed later on to introduce a Bill to place the matter on a proper basis, as otherwise every poison who had been domg business in tbo in-

terests enumerated in tbe treaty would have a claim against the colony, No one regretted more than he and his colleagues

ihe fact that tho Oomm-tiee could not si o ts way to rat-fy the agreement entered

into by th 6 late Premier. They could imagine the difficulty that would be ex peruncsd in framing a treaty that would be satisfactory to all cases. It was only after exhaustive inquiry that the fa 1 effect tf the proposed treaty could be realised. Mr Seddoa'd aim was a high and a noble one, and his efforts would no doubt be rewarded by some praolioai result in tbe future. He, however, very much regretted that the Government could not snppoit tbe proposed treaty. As he bRd said when placing the treaty before the House, tho principal item was that of sugar. If they carried out what was pro-

posed in. the treaty in respect to sugar, it would be placing the whole colony in the hands of one powerful company-, which did business both in New Zealand and Australia, without giving any concession to the consumer in the colony, although they would be sacrificing revenue to the extent of .£186,000. The only way to give the consumer benefit was te remove the sugar duty in regard to the world at large. A careful examination of the position by himself and his colleagues, and the responsible officers of the Customs Department had been made, and they found that the result of the operation of the treaty would be entirely different from what had been intended by Mr Seddon, in consequence of the command of the sugarmarket both in New Zealand and Austra-

lia being in the hands of one company. He was q;iuo aura that if the iato Promier were now alive he would, with a lull knowledge of ihe details gathered by exhaustive investigation, change his opinion as to the effect of the proposal ia regard to sugar. He did not propose to refer to anna - points of the treaty, as the sugar item was the all important one. They could not alter any items without destroying the whole treasy, otherwise some individual recommendations would have been made. He very much regretted beleg unable to take the course ho would dearly have hked to take, by moviDg the ratification of the agreement entered into by the late Premier, but he hoped that the work already begun would be followed up in future with good results. Mr Massey seconded the motion, and agreed with the sentiments expressed by the Premier in regard to the efforts of the late Premier aad Mr DeakiD. The position was a d-fficult one to fores, but be hoped Borne satisfactory arrangements would bu arrived at in the near future.

It was not neoessary to disauss the propoeed treaty at any length. Only one witness had been examined before the committee, the representative of the candle manufacturers, who now expressed oonourrenoe with the treaty, and it seemed to him that the oandle manufacturers had a g.jiains grievaaoe. The duty on imported candle's 11 present was Id per lb, whi'st that on wax was fl per lb, thus allowing on [ y 1 for N=w Zealand manufacturers to ooma and go od. He thought ihe duty on wax should be remisted in regard to all countries. The main faot to be considered was that tbe oolony would lose £165 000 a year by the operation of the treaty, Under these oircumstanoes the treaty could not be agreed to. It was, however, surprising that the people of two British countries should k-ep up a protecting tariff wall, and that until the la3t year or two no attempts had been made to break it dowD. Ho hoped that the loDg-promised revision of ihe taiiff would be undertaken by Government next year, and that there would be a promotion of closer trade relations between New Zealand aud Australia and other B.itish countii a.

Mr Laureneon supported the treaty, advocating free flour, and pointing out the advantage to mineral waters, barloy, oats, aod bops, Mr Ell supported the Premier, declaring the proposed treaty would not ass st New Zealand industries. Mr Buddo considered it would be always hopeless to arrange a treaty wth Australia. Mr T. Mackenzie poioted out tbe diffi-

culty of dealing wiih the Australian sugar monopoly, and tbe impossibility of gifting New Zealand produce into Au-fiialia against the Australian favour. Mr Hanan thought tho whole advantage of the treaty was on the aide of Aus-

tralia. Mr Sodden considered the treaty had been drawn up in the interest of a free breakfast tabl ■. That it was not in favor of monopolies, and that i s nbuso W3s onesided on both sides of the Tasman S;a was significant, and bo hoped with tho Premier that a treaty would in ihe near future bo arranged which would brooms, 1 a 3 this ono was intended, a link in ihe great Imperial connection. Mr Malcolm advooated tho claims cf local industry without protection. Mr Hogg thought the 10-ses under the treaty would be too great, especially in the sugar trade, Mr F.atman supported the motion of the Premier, and penned hia hope. Mr Thomson was against the Ireaty cn the whole. Mr Alison supported the motion for tho sake of the fruit industry. The Promier, in rep'ying, expressed bis sympathy with tbo sgeteh of Mr Seddon that evening. He was sorry at tbs turn that matters bad i&ksu ; nevertheless he oongratulat* : M.- S-ddc-n. He explained i that Govarumeit bed rcceiv.d so many i representations againt the treaty tq > t , they saw that tho c untry was (.gainst it i In tho maiter cf sugar he pointed out tho > certainty, were the treaty to be adopted • of being at |he mercy of a monopoly. Ho

did not obj»ot to sacrifloa tho JG 188.000, but not in iho intorost of a mouopoly. Tho future hopo was that tho whito roots on both silos of tbo water might mako a roally valuable treaty in thou* mutual interests. Ho ngreod with tho speakers who had insisted that both tho farming

and tho manufacturing interests required tho most oaroful consideration. Ho hoped iho treaty drawn up by tho illustrious signatot- might proro tho forerunner of a roally valuable or:o. Tho motion was carried on tho voioos.