RECIPROCITY.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 November 1921, Page 1

RECIPROCITY.

TAR lEE AXOAIALIES. TRADE .DEI* lid ATE RETURNS. WELLINGTON. November 11. ••There never has been a time so opportune ns the present lor bringing to a successful issue negotiations Hun have twice fulled already for a detinil,policy of reciprocity ill trade and general commercial relations with Australia. The people of the Commonwealth have a genuine admiration for Air .Massey. the Prime Minister of New le.n---1.-iihl, and are looking to hint to reop’ll the question. They would have liked o have seen and heard him on his way to or from the Imperial Conference, but they realise bis responsibilities have alone deprived them of that snlisf'ction.” Those sentiments wore expressed mi .quiet but convincing tones to a “Times" representative by Air 11. .-I. .Munson, the Dominion representative in Melbourne, who is on a fortnight ' visit to Wellington. Emm impr ■<-

si,ms gained by a close observance "1 eomlitions in Australia, from the m '- point „|- the Federal administrative centre, lie indicated the possible ff in some ways barmtul ol tin ,> w Common wealth tariff. and distin-t openings that lie hopes to see follow 'd up ioi expansion > I New- /salami " trade in the least. Australia has added Itirtdicr tm me of protection to its secondary or m nulart uring indiist ties. said Al r Malison. It has no bearing on *• i-'t trade was or may be carried on by lim Dominion ,n er there, but on the - milpetition, that is MOW increasing in 'olumc of the maniifaetured products ol Cermuny and other European cmai.i"'that arc fast coining back to a l< >'l economic keel. EFFECT of new TAR I EE. '•How will it affect New /calami?” Let me quote a few .instances our timber, our leather, our imicliinery *"td manufactured articles common to both Dominions. The new tariff P l '"' for wliat is known as an intei inedi 'le rate of d ll lv. that may lie brought ii to .operation immediately reciprocal uiraiigements are completed with the Dominions, such as X* " Zealand --oil'Africa, and Canada. Hie I'od'ial M'»

ister for Customs (Ah Alassey ( > has from time to time mad" public announcements that Austi.ilia is w I iug. at any time that New Zealand is ready. to ,1 iseuss tlie question "I closer trade relations. 1 am at liberty safety to say that there is a growing feeling over there, in favour of an.' proposal that may link the two sister Dominions in their enmmen-e. It is known that New Zealand, for many years has been trading under disadvantages with the Commonwealth. in not being accorded the prelerenc" tb.il the United Kingdom enjoys. Alany of on,- goods are well-known in Australia. and would ,-ommand a ready market. provided the tariff harried against them was removed.” BRITISH CAPITAL.

Afr Munson instanced New /cal:rugs, tinned ni'-als and cheese. Al in, British linns, he said, arc putting capital into manufactur-c jin Australia woollen “tops.” woollen goods. Hugo sums are Mowing into all the Stal r and in the centres where woollen nulls an- established, such as Ballarat. Oolong and Alarriekvillc (Sydney! tnere is what might almost he termed a boom in the manufacture of raw- products into the manufactured aitich-. AIUTUAL DISADVANTAGE. Dili this harrier mu also prevent the development ol trade in the Dominion ul Australian products, not produced already here:- Air .Munson was asked. M'liis was .si). In- agreed, and added that it elinelied the' argument, in the mind of the Australian trader for closer relations. Wine was a product that was I,ringing Australia into a-new prominence. Yet producers there claimed to he suffering a- disability m not bein.r aide to meet the demand in Now Zealand Smith Africa had a reciprocal arrangement with the Dominion, laud Cape wines were admitted ill an import duty of L’s per gallon, whereas tin- Austraiian beverage was under all impost of Is a gallon. TIAIDER AND CEAIENT TRADE. • ■There is a demand in Australia for New /calami xnft woods, just as there was a ready market here Bn- the hardwoods of the Commonwealth forests. Vet the fiscal harrier looms up. Ge-nu-lit is a prominent product- in New Zealand,” remarked the visitor. Aon may he surprised to learn Hint jost now there is a good deal of rivalry in \ listralin as to who can land the most New- Zealand cement. Apart from residences in the distant suburbs and the country centres, the wooden struct tit* is a thing of the past there. I was ViU'V glad t<» see a i-ouple of good shipments „f cement from the Dominion. We made inquiries, and we found I'■ il was pronounced the equal of the best cement that had reached the Coiu-iiionw-eallh. The diflu-ulty iust at the moment- has been to gel hack-loading cargo for vessels carrying cement, hut. if cargoes of this nature could he lifted. it. would even up the hidance of trade, which has been somewhat onesided ill the past.” PACIFIC AND THE EAST.

Mr Alanson was asked whether 1 1 is nhsorvat inns <1 ui '. rooont years of Ansi rnlinn trade (lovt’loimicnt hurl indicated to him any prosper'tiro now markets for Now Zealand. “Certainly.” ho answered. “The nooessity for oponiior lip now market* is ■i very live ((Host ion in Vnstralia inst new. ’They are in a happv position, with Aniorira. .lannn. and the h.ast. •ildino lo Iho thorns of ini| nines from I’eiied Kinoilom and Tin rope for now I r ole nvonoos There are four overseas Tra-h* roino>i««ioiioro. represent Ine '••real Prdadi T’nilod Stairs. Canada and Vow 'Zealand A hi" hid is hoiinr ~,.,'1e ltv losif din. tor-trade outlets in Tj, .-a. Ill" Slrahs’ Soil lotoonts. and '•'l ien The I fade with the last two ;„„ m nd from or, 000.000 t- HI 000.000 in Hi,. lasi voar ' nstralin has a Trade r< ..'{micislnner in the Fast, and the lia mannaelnrinir concerns are now setelpte travellers there reoadorlv with semrdoe. America and Cermnny shar-

the Australian viewpoint is that it is imperative that the British Dominions bordering on the Pacific should establisli themselves there commercially. Matters of policy are outside my function, hut T am convinced that there are opportunities for a very material expansion ‘of our sealanne trade in the East, in tinned fruits, mentV, jams, woollen poods, cheap blankets, and leather. As a matter of faet, I am at present advising the Government as to what Australia is doing in this eonnection.”