CANADIAN POLITICS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 August 1926, Page 2

CANADIAN POLITICS

THE ELECTIONS. TRADE TREATY POLICY. [by TELEGRAPH - PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. | VANCOUVER, Aug. 16. The Premier, Air Mcighcn,, in » speech at Roy stall, Vancouver Island, to-day denied any intention of striking a “red ink line” through the Australian trade trehty. He stated: “YYinit I intend to do is to make an honest effort to reform this treaty, along the lines of an agreement that Australia, signed, and when I get it reformed, it will he fair to the Canadian farmers, •and wiil get the admission of goods to Australia just as well.” Air Aleighen reviewed the liegotiat ions between Canada and Australia, lie declared that he was in la'our of special trade ariiingeifisnts with other British Dominions and with the Ale.thy crland. He said that at too Imperial Conference in 1921 he took up with the then Prime Alinister of Australia the question of a trade treaty. Ho claimed that the first trade treaty between the King Liberal Government-'"”" and Australia provided a preference for Australia on certain products bj rasing the tariff on these when imported from other coutries. Australia accepted, and then the King Government, so Mr Aleighen .argued, needed to cultivate progressive alliances. and it negotiated a new treaty,\ whereupon the duty on certain d.ilij products from other countries was left where it was, while either the duty on these products from Australia was induced, or the products were let i» free. This, Air Aleighen said, left the Canadian farmer open to Australian competition. Hence the Conservatives’ criticism of the treaty. He argued that the first treaty of the King Government was far better. It raised the tariff on outside farm products, and made the Yankee farmer pay more to get in here. VICTORIA (8.C.), Aug. 17. Ah' Aleighen in H speech to-day said:—“lf the Governor-General is to sign everything placed before him, then it means that fle must permit tbe Government to deny that it is answerable to Parliament, it would compel the Governor-General to place Government in a position supreme over Pailiarnent itself. _ Rcefrring to the Australian tariff treaty, bo charged AD" MacKenzie King with exposing the farmers .of Canada to unlimited competition from Australia, and New Zealand in the products affected. The Conservatives, ho said, proposed to nFikc an honest, vigorous effort to lia\o t-Ac treaty reformed along the lines ol the original agreement-, leaving fair | tection for tlio farmers of Canada.