RECIPROCITY AND PREFERENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3718, 4 October 1906, Page 3

RECIPROCITY AND PREFERENCE.

Wellington, Tuesday. The report of the Extension of Commerce Committee on the proposed reciprocal treaty was presented to the House of Representatives to-day, and, as was generally anticipated, the finding was adverse to the ratification of the treaty. Mr W. T. Glasgow, Secretary for Customs, who gave evidence before the committee, submitted a return showing how each article mentioned in the proposed agreement would l)e affected. In some cases, he said, it was extremely difficult to make an estimate, and the figures given only approximate. The total net result was that Australia would gain ,£121,930 and New Zealand would lose ,£165,090. The large gain to Australia, he said, was accounted for by the raising of the duty against foreign countries. The large loss to New Zealand was principally due to sugar, the loss in regard to which would be ,£186,000. The statement showed that in regard to aerated and mineral waters Australia would lose ,£IOOO and New Zealand would lose ,£4OO- Australia would gain ,£3OO on bacon and hams, and the same amount on butter. In respect to cheese, Australia would gain £SOO and New Zealand £sp> whilst candles would give a gain of ,£13, 000 to Australia and one of £9OOO to New Zealand. Australia would lose £IOO on eggs and £BOO on fish, whilst New Zealand would be a loser on apples and diied fruit to the extent of £7OO and £2500 respectively. There would be a loss of £7s° t 0 Australia in respect of barley, one of ,£2OOO on oats, one of ,£l2O on bran sharps and pollard, and one of ,£1250 on flo.r. New Zealand would also lose ,£3OO on flour, but it would gain £SOO on oats, £SO on beans and peas, and ,£25 on wheat. Australia again would lose £BOO on oatmeals, etc., ,£s° on hay and chaff and ,£SOO on linseed. Against these losses, however, the Commonwealth would benefit in regard to other items as follows : —Hops £16,000, malt £3 2 5°. P re ' served milk £3500, onions £3s°> potatoes £2OO, perfumed soap £3OOO, and on various descriptions of timber the gain would be no less than £58,500. New Zealand would lose £l4° 011 bay and chaff, £IOO on linseed cake, £SO on oils, £450 on eucalyptus, £186,000 on sugar and £2200 on wines. Against those, this colony would benefit by £BOO on hops, £IOO on malt, £2500 on preserved milk, £2OO on onions; £i3)° 00 011 P er ' fumed soap, and £15 2 5 011 timber. Melbourne, Tuesday._ The reciprocity proposals with South Africa provide for preference as follows:- —Butter, cheese, and confectionery, 25 per cent of present value rate ; dried fish, 2S 4 d per cwt; fodder, 25 per cent, of , present rate; dried fruit, id to lid per lb; green fruits, tree ; grain and flour, 25 per cept. oi present duty; oats, wheat, hay, leather, agricultural and mining machinery, bacon, hams, frozen beef, mutton, poultry,, and rabbits, fresh and smoked meats, in tins, 25 per cent, of present duties ; spirits, excise rates plus 2\ per cent, of same ; Sugar produced by white labor 2S, by black labor is per cwt; timber, dressed and undressed, 25 per cent, of present rate ; tobacco, gdpr lb ; still wines as per gallon in bulk, 5 s i n bottles.