INTERCOLONIAL FREE TRADE

Southland Times, Issue 1093, 20 January 1869, Page 3

INTERCOLONIAL FREE TRADE

The Colonial Secretary , New Zealand, to the Colonial Secretary, New South Wales. Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 29fch October, 1868. Sib, — I have the honor to enclose a copy of a resolution, adopted by the House of Representatives in this colony, recommending that steps should be taken to ascertain the position of the colony in relation to Commercial Treaties between Great Britain and Foreign Powers, and especially that authority should be sought to enable New Zealand, in conjunction with the Australian colonies, to enter into negotiations with the United States for the free admission into that country of wool, the product of those colonies. I In order to enable you better to j understand the general object of the ] resolution, I enclose a report of the j debate thereon (pages 197 to 201, New , Zealand Hansard, week ending 10th j October, 1868). In connection with this subject, I may mention that the question of the free interchange between the Australian colonies and New Zealand of certain of their products has been under the consideration of this Government, and has incidentally been referred to in Parliament. Eully impressed with the importance of some legislation on this subject, the Government would have submitted to the Legislature a measure for the encouragement of that interchange under certain conditions, were it not for the legal difficulty of framing such a measure, so as to a^oid the possible infringement of commercial treaties between the Government of the United Kingdom and foreign Governments — a difficulty which has already caused the disallowance by Her Majesty of the Tasmanian Act (No. 23, 1817), entitled A Bill to Promote Intercolonial Free Trade. It is unnecessary for me to dilate on the importance of this subject, or on the common interest which a maritime group like the Australian colonies must have in a satisfactory settlement of their com. mercial relations with the United States and other foreign countries, and also with each other. This community of interest demands community of action ; and, with that view, the Government of New Zealand is anxious to join with the Governments of the other coloines in devising and adopting some united course of proceeding which, by the aid of Imperial legislation or otherwise, would enable the obstacles which have hitherto existed to be overcome, and would permanently secure the common object in view. A conference of delegates from the colonies concerned would no doubt be the means of dealing with the consideration of these subjects, and of an'iving at some practical conclusion. This conference might also deal with other questions respecting which correspondance is now passing between some of the Australian Governments and this Government, namely, the Ocean Postal Service ; the establishment of a depot at the Auckland Islands ; and the erection of a lighthouse on the " Snares." a dangerous reef to the South of New Zealand in the course of vessels bound from Australia towards Cape Horn. Any other matters which may require joint consideration could also receive attention. I would accordingly suggest that, for this purpose a conference of delegates from each colony be held at Sydney about (say) the Ist of February next ; and I earnestly hope that this proposal may be in conformity with the views of your Government. I shall feel obliged by a reply, at your early convenience, and it would obviate delay if you would be good enough to intimate its purport to the other Australasian Governments, to whom I have made a similar communication. — I have, &0. E. W. Stafford. The Colonial Secretary, New South Wales, to the Colonial Secretary, New Zealand. Colonial Secretary's Office, Sydney, 4th Dec, 1868. Sir — I have the honor to acknowledge, on the 16th ultimo, the receipt of your letter of the 29th of October last, in explanation of the general object of the resolution — a copy of which you forwarded — adopted by your House of Representatives, affecting the commercial interests of the Australian colonies ; and, to say in reply, that this Government fully concurs in the opinion expressed that it would be of the greatest advantage to this colony, to ascertain its commercial Btatus in relation to the treaties made by Great Britian with Foreign Powers, and to obtain authority to negotiate for the free admission into America, or other countries, of the products of New South Wales. This Government is fully alive to the advisability of some legislation being initiated as suggested by you, for establishing a free interchange of products between the Australasian colonies and New Zealand respectively. Acknowledging, therefore, the great importance of the step recommended by your Legislature, as well as the necessity for immediate and united action being taken to overcome the obstacles which stand in the way of permanently securing an object so desirable, I shall invite tbe Governments of the other Australian colonies to express their opinion upon the advisability of adopting the suggestion for a conference of delegates to coneider — 1. The introduction of free trade on inter-colonial products, and also 2. A uniform tariff, and 3. A union of customs — to be held in this city, in the early part of the month of March next ; as that would be more convenient, it appears, than the date suggested by you.

The opportunity might be properly taken of submitting to such Conference any questions of a cognate nature of winch a practical solution may be desired for the mutual benefit of the group of Australasian colonies and New Zealand. A copy of this letter will be forwarded to the '"invvM-mnents of Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, and Tasmania. I have, &c, JOH2f ROBERTSON. The Colonial Secretary, New South Wales, also addressed communications to the Chief Secretaries of Victoria, Queensland,, South Australia, and Tasmania, expressing a wish to elicit an early expression of opinion from their Governments upon the proposed conference of delegates in Sydney in March next, to consider the important subject named therein. ; The following despatch was laid before j the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales :— j " Downing-street, Jan. 7, 1868. "Sir — Her Majesty's Government have had under their consideration Sir John Young's despatch, No 87, of 2 1st December, 1868, inclosing a minute of the Executive Council of New South Wales, in which they recommended that the Imperial Parliament should be invited to pass a measure for the purpose of repealing the provisions of tlie Constitution Acts of the Australian colonies, Jvhich prohibit the imposition of discriminating duties, so far as to allow the importation, by land or otherwise, of the produce of any one of them duty free. By acceding to this request Her Majesty's Government would recognise the principle that any group of neighbouring colonies, or, perhaps, that any number of colonies not neighbouring, might make arrangements for the admission, duty free, of each other's produce, and thus constitutedilferential duties as against foreign nations, or eveu against this country. Her Majesty's Government would gladly aid in the establishment of a Customs union, comprising all the adjacent Australian colonies, and providing for the importation of goods from colony to colony for an equitable division of the Customs duties, and for a uniform tariff as between Australia and otlxe^J^countries or places,' and they are not unwilling to take into consideration any particular relaxation of the existing rule which might be justified ornecessitated by particular circumstances; but they cannot propose to Pcirliament a . measure which could not well stop short of the virtual repeal in favor of the colonies of that clause iv the Australian Government Act which prohibits the imposition of differential duties, and might .seriously embarrass the action of this Government in their commercial relations with other countries. The act which has been passed by the New South Wales Legislature to give effect to the agreement with Victoria for the free importation of the goods across the River Murray, is under the consideration of Her Majesty's Government. I have &c. (Signed) Buckingham: and Chajsuos. The officer administering the Government of New South Wales."