IMPROVE EMPIRE TRADE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 999, 16 June 1930, Page 1

IMPROVE EMPIRE TRADE

AUSTRALIA CONSULTS NEW ZEALAND FEDERAL MINISTER’S PLEA Considerably more cohesion *n the trade relations of the Dominions of the British Empire and in commerce with the United Kingdom is advocated strongly by the Hon. J. E. Fenton, Minister of Trade and Customs in the Australian Federal Government, who is a visitor to Auckland. On his arrival from Vancouver last evening by the Aorangi, Mr. Fenton announced. that he would hold an important consultation on trade reciprocity in the city today with New Zealand’s Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle. The discussions, he said, were arranged at the instance of the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. J. H. Scullin. Mr. Fenton, in an interview, indicated the many trade interests common to New Zealand and AustraliaThere were actually few difficulties in the way of a more satisfactory trade agreement between the Commonwealth and the Dominion, and the object of tho consultation was largely to consider certain duties imposed by both countries which were regarded as obstacles against reciprocal trade. It was necessary to realise that nothing could be done by either country from the discussions with Mr. de la Perrelle unless a Parliamentary or a Government decision was reached. Mr. Fenton said he would report on his mission to the Federal Government after his arrival at Sydney by the Aorangi. Mr. Fenton met President Hoover and members of the United States Government at Washington,' and in Canada he discussed trade relations with members of the Government. The impression he received from the discussions, and from those with departmental officers and business men, was that there was eagerness to improve trade relations between America and Australia. Mr. Fenton was certain that an improvement in commerce with the United States would be made. Australia, with the realisation of its trade balance, was desirous of having purchases from overseas. OTHER COUNTRIES ACTIVE “Greater efforts should be made to effect mutual trade arrangements between all the Dominions,” said Mr. Fenton. “I am looking forward hopefully to the Imperial Conference, beginning on September 30, to bring about arrangements beneficial to the Umpire, and particularly to the agricultural production of the Dominions. Unless reasonable co-operation is set up within the Empire the most likely thing w'ill be that other countries will exploit our disunion, with injury to ourselves. The nations of the world are preparing themselves for trade extension. It should be a comparatively easy thing to bring about more satisfactory agreements between the Dominions, where the standard of living and the purchasing power of the people are much higher than those of more thickly populated countries.” New Zealand should be able to find an excellent market in the population of 6,500,000 in Australia. Mr. de la Perrelle agreed last evening that Australia and New Zealand should co-operate more. Mr. de la Perrelle is accompanied by the Comptroller of Customs, Dr. G. Craig.