RECIPROCITY.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 March 1922, Page 3

RECIPROCITY.

INFLUENCE ON PACIFIC

WELLINGTON. March 8

A gentleman who has had wide experience of the political life of Australia. and who has recently settled in New Zealand!, made the following statements in an interview with a representative of the “Times” yesterday : “The Hon. W. Downie Stewart has started on hi s mission for Australia to negoiate, if possible, reciprocal concessions in our Customs tariffs and the occasion seems an opportune one to review the present state of the mutual relations between Now Zealand au<l Australia, not-only in respect to trade and commerce, but also in respect of our responsibilities in the Pacific, and our poitical aspirations in general. i ‘ AUSTRALIA HAS MORE TO | GAIN.”

“Mr Stewart’s mission has met with sorao hostile criticism on the grounds that, while Customs concessions are admittedly desirable for both parties, the position of New Zealand is so much the stronger of the two, and Australia lias so much more to gain by a reciprocal treaty than we have—their exports to us in 1920 were £7,743,744, a s against £2,392,560 from here—that it would have been more fitting for Australia to have sent n mission to us than that we should have sent one to Australia. It appears to us, however that, for that very reason, we can well afford to be magnanimous. The first advances towards an understanding come with the best grace from the strongest of two adversaries, and the strength of our position is undoubted and admitted, as may be gathered from the debate in the Commonwealth Parliament on the Customs tariff (New Zealand Preference) Bill, which was .presented and paisfcedi through all stages at one sitting of the House in December last. PROBLEM 01*’ MANDATED ISLANDS.

“We may assume that Air Stewart will have no difficulty in bringing about a satisfactory understanding in respect to existing trade questions, but those relating to the Pacific Islands are of equal, if not greater importance, though they are far from being so generally understood, as at present they have little or no influence on our daiiy life. For the best of reasons, to secure protection from the encroachments of possibly hostile nations, Australia and New Zealand liave lightheartedly accepted the responsibility of governing a vast tract of islands in the Pacific, most of them densely populated by aboriginal races and but sparsely populated by those of our own rare. We now find ourselves face to face with the difficulties of governing an aggregation of small colonies to tho satisfaction of all concerned, both white and cohmred, and under conditions that differ enormously from those that influence the laws we make for ourselves.

■‘PREFERENCE TO NATIVE RACES.”

“Acting, curiously enough, on inherited British instinct, our legslation for these colonies of ours has taken into prime consideration the welfare and secure of the aboriginal natives, the owners of the soil, on lines very similar to those adopted by the British Colonial Office in the past, and with almost identical resuts both for Australia. and ourselves the furious indignation of white traders, who universally complain that they are hnrrassed and their interests subordinated to those of the pampered .aboriginal. Here then, presents itself an opportunity for joint action on the part of Now Zealand, Australia and Fiji, with the High Commissioner for the Pacific

—a conference to settle on broad and general lines the general principles on which the islands are to be governed leaving minor details for individual ndijiisltme'nt. Discontent, if it (afterwards existed, would then be against the considered decision of those severally responsible for the government of the whole of the British islands of the Pacific. POLITICAL LIAISON OFFICERS. “It is evident that, a« time goes on more political questions will arise, on which .joint action on the part of New Zealand and Australia woud he to the advantage of both, and the deduction is 'obvious that both Governments shiould take (steps!, without loss of time, to come more closely into touch with each other, hy the appointment of diplomatic agents, or liaison officers, to represent them in both capitals, Already Australia has represntatives in Canada, India, China and the United States, but, curiously enough, none in New Zealand though New Zealand has trade representatives in both Melbourne and Sydney, and Canada has trade commissioners in both the Commonwealth and the Dominion. This anomaly should be corrected forthwith. The ideal officer would be one connected intimately with political and financial life in Australia, and not out of touch with that of our Dominion, if such can be found, and we trust that Mr 'Stewart, will not fail to urge the Commonwealth Government to appoint such n representative to Wellington during his present visit to Melbourne ”