TRADE WITH GERMANY.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 May 1923, Page 4

TRADE WITH GERMANY.

QUESTION OF RESUMPTION. MINISTER. FOR CUSTOMS MAKES GUARDED REPLY. WELLINGTON. May 8. Deference to the question of the resumption of trade with Germany was made yesterday by Mr G. H. Scott (president of the New Zealand Association of British Manufactures and Agents) at the complimentary luncheon tendered to Air Norman Elmslie, His .Majesty's Trade Commissioner. The horizon, said Air, Scott, was t rowded with problems, lint none ot them was more difficult than that of the resumption of trade with Germany. If ever .there was a problem which it was necessary to settle by Empire conference, it was this one. It appealed to lie absolutely necessary that before resumption of .trade took place a conference of Empire Premiers should first discuss and arrange general terms — terms that would give a uniform date for resumption of trade with all Empire units; that would cover the question of depreciated currency and the application of dumping clauses; that would arrange for a. board of experts, stationed in Germany, to advise the various Dominions regarding the values, and also in regard to those commodities in which trade could be fely resumed. Such matters would not interfere with the tarilfis or poli-

cies of Empire units. An Empire conference should surely analyse, and make very careful investigation into, the general effects oil Empire trade before re.-nmpti' ii becomes effective. ; Applause). ‘'WOULD BE A URIAH’].”

The importance of many questions to he discussed at the forthcoming Imperial Conference could bring opportunities for our Prime Minister to render to this Dominion a service, the value of which would lie hard to estimate, and it will he a crime if our Dominion is not represented in ..ombui this vear by its Prime Minister. It was impossible that Parliamentarians could tiiid any tangible excuse lor prevention outside tho realm of party interests. (Hear, hear.) If those interests could not. even for a short period. be subordinated to their country’s requirements and the unparalleled interest she had in the approaching Imperial Conference, they would prove themselves devoid of true patriotism, and willing to sacrifice the interests of Dominion and Empire to those of party politics. (Applause). GER .MAN V AND CUSTOMS TARIFF. There would of necessity bo some heart-burning in regard to the tar id. whien was to bo made operative against German importations; tliis position would be one el extreme difficulty. hut they had liitl doubt as to the ' Government’s intentions in this direction. They believed that the Government. would take precautions to properly protect, not only any imiu Lries of this Dominion, hut also the trade with the Motherland now enjoyed with our country. 1 hey had no fears that the Government would dare to allow to Germany, or any other foreign nation, privileges, either under the depreciated currency or any other abnormal conditions, which would ever, in the amnllc.-t decree, nullify tile prole ronro which was granted to the Motherland by the new tarilf. (Applause). Moreover, no Government could find excuses for any trade relationship with Germany that would in any way tend to increase the amount of privation and unemployment which now exists in the Motherland, and which it was hoped by tho extension ol trade with tho Dominions to relieve to a considerable degree. But hardship might unwittingly he imposed on British industry. They quite appreciated the dif’it tiltics of the Government in finding a duly basis in regard to German goods licit would prevent disaster to certain British industries, and it did appear U he wrong that Empire units should • . p-irately resume trade with Germany without lirst discovering the divot of v bal I hev proposed to do. DERRECIATGD CURRENCY.

ruder the Customs ami Einamv Act lie Government look powers to levy addition’! dutv bv a sliding scale on

goods purchn-ed under dvpreeiaitcd currency. luit this only reached currency depreciated up to the extent of DM per cent. We had to-day numerous instances of hardship iudn led oil ili iti-!.-1 rude !-. lln fa' 1 l liel the E’ -m h : ■ir-

reney had d.-puvbned practically 3!H) per tent, and Italian currency -lIKI per lent. Ilotv could it meet the position ix warding (1,-1-110111 currency I" .MINISTER FOR CUSTOMS SI’EA KS.

The lion Downie Stewart t .Minister I'm Customs) .-.Laird that he had listened with great attention to the able remarks 11 , the chair,null • ami all he could sav was tiiai insofar as they supported what the Government was doing he concurred with them, but iu>o far as they dissented from what the Government was doing lie dissented from them. (.Laughter). He could not speak as freely as the Chairman had (lone <Ol these matters; luit lie realised hilly, wiili the chairman, the very difficult problem that we were up against; and lie could first explain the Government's attitude by a story told „f a. certain judge in New South Wales. He had sentenced a criminal to ten year:' imprisonment, and the prisoner made an earnest plea for mercy. s.i\ig that be was very old ar.d did not think that he could live so long. “Well,”' replied the judge “you must do the best you call.” (laughter) and the Government was doing the best it could in regard to the questions ol Imperial preference and trade with Germany. (A pplause).