TRADE NEGOTIATION BEGINS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 69, 14 December 1937, Page 7

TRADE NEGOTIATION BEGINS

-Press Association.)

Australian and Dominion Ministers

balanced commerce

(By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, Last Night. Discussions between representatives jf the New Zealand Government and aiembers of the Australian trade delegation were begun this afternoon. These will be continued to-morrow and in the interim consideration is to- be given to the question of Pacifie shipping and the trans-Tasinan air servicc. During their stay in New Zealand the Australian representatives will be the guests of the New Zealand Government and a State luncheon is to bo given in honour of the Australian Minister of Trade and Customs, Lieut.Colonel Hon. T. W. White. The date of this function has yet to be arrangeci. Present ■ indications are that the visiting delegation will be in New Zealand until over Chrlstmas and the New Year holiday perioa. The following official statement was issued at the conclusion of to-day 's discussions: — "The first conference between the representatives of the Australian Commonwealth and the New Zealand Governments took plaee this afternoon at Parliament Buildings. Hon. W. Nash, Minister of Customs, and Hon. D. G. Sullivan, Minister of Industries and Commerce, in welcaming Colonel White, Australian Minister of Customs, stressed the determination. of the New Zealand Government to maintain the friendly relations between the two countries and trusted that the aegotiatious would lead to more baianeed trade, to the advantage of the Commonwealth and the Dominion. The discussions will continue to-morrow, and in the interim the question of Pacifie shipping and trans-Tasman airways will be considered by the Ministers coneerned. "Colonel White, in Teplying, said Australia had striven in the treaty of 1933 to give New Zealand the maximum amount of trade in Australia. Ho appreeiated the invitation of New Zealand to discuss the situation and saw no reason why the present diffieulties should not bo overcome and the yolume of mutual trade improved. "Negotiations are being carried out between the Ministers already mentioned and Hon. Mark Fagan, who has been acting-Mmister of Customs during Mr. Nask's absenco ovcrseas, with the Comptroller of Customs and Secretary of the Department of Industries and the assistant Secretary of the Australian Department of Commerce and Mr. Fletcher, of the Australian trade treaty section."