RECIPROCITY TALK

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 860, 2 January 1930, Page 8

RECIPROCITY TALK

Sir — The arrival of the Canadian lumbermen's delegation on a timber trade promotion and reciprocity-seeking campaign in New Zealand is strangely enough closely aligned with an article dealing with Canada’s attitude toward this Dominion’s dairy produce in last evening's Sun. The principle involved in both subjects seems to me to be closely co-related. Canada wants New

Zealand to buy more timber from her, and to adjust tariffs to give preference to her lumber. At the same time what does the Canadian Government propose in regard to the importation of New Zealand butter and cheese into Canada? Mr. J. B. Mac Ewan, a prominent dairy authority, who has investigated the markets in other countries, holds the opinion that an increase in the Canadian tariff wall against New Zealand dairy produce must be expected The new Assistant-Canadian Trade Commissioner, Mr. H. L. E. Priestman, pooh-poohs the idea. Who is right? “Cow cockies” will remember the alarm caused some months ago when cables announced the rumpus the Canadian National Dairymen’s Association was kicking up for a higher protective tariff. True, as Mr. Priestman says, nothing has been done so far in this direction, but how much longer will the Canadian “cow cockies” put up with prices they consider unremunerative, and, if the agitation becomes strong enough, when will the Canadian Government .cave in to their demands? The dairy producers of this Dominion will want to hear more amiable talk of reciprocity toward their produce before countenancing any reciprocity to other industries. COW COCKIE.