The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1931. FAVOURED NATION TREATMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 December 1931, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1931. FAVOURED NATION TREATMENT.

One result of the tariff harriers to international trading is the demand for international commercial treaties, whereby arrangements are made for the interchange.of products under favoured nation treatment. This action I may delay or affect British Empire reciprocity in favour of which the I National Government at Home has imi? declared rather belatedly. There is a favouring treaty as between Canada and Australia which has favourable commercial results. Canada has stood aloof from a like treaty with New Zealand, and when the Prime Minister of tlijs country passed through the big .Dominion, its Ministry contrived to avoid dealing with the .subject. Now our Minister of Customs. Hon. W. D. Stewart, is en route to Honolulu there to meet the Canadian Minister-of Customs by appointment, with a view to discussing a reciprocal trade ngreement. Canada acted very off handedly when putting up a customs barrier against New Zealand produce earlier in the year, but there are '.hopes that the Canadian Ministers will now be less arrogant. Trade within the Empire on an established footing would be the ideal condition, and assist to help all parts of far-flung Dominion.-;. The adoption of a protective tariff now appears to be inevitable for Great Britain, and having reached that point of decision it should lie, naturally, in the interests, of the countries embraced within the Empire to give them favoured treatment. It is true of course, that Britain has financial ties outside of those of blood in the world, and in South America there are non-British territories where Great Britain has large investments. Consideration must be given to those countries so helped; Britain’s present excursion into a tariff is modest and moderate intended to help conditions internally. Britain must feel, in fact fully realises now, that there are benefits in “a bargaining tariff “with those nations who have built a tariff wall .against British goods. It is possible that this means that fresh trading avenues will be opened, and that of course will be important to the manufacturing interest? in Great Britain. It is held also, that the adoption of a tarf-f by Britain will have its effect in regard to tariff conciliation generally, because for fur too lot's Britain with free trade, was the dumping ground for all countries, till checked by a retaliatory tariff. Many countries cannot afford to lose so valuable a market as Britain offers for their special commodities. The check now imposed through the British tariff will cause nations affected to st.u<*v the trading position from a new angle of self interest. The monetary aspect bits the nations involved and so there will be reason for calling a halt in building up tariffs which have penalised British ex'ports, while imports from the countries responsible for the discrimination, have gone in freely into the United Kingdom. Now that the .situation is changing any alteration should be to the advantage of Greaft. Britain, which hitherto has been at the disadvantage. The bargaining time is at hand and an improvement in British' trade should result. Any added, 1 prosperity in that quarter ■should help the overseas Dominions pouring their produce into the Kingdom, and for that reason any advance in trade under the manipulation ol the tariffs is to be welcomed.