THE RECIPROCITY TREATY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81857, 4 October 1906, Page 3

THE RECIPROCITY TREATY.

COMMITTEE'S REPORT ADOPTED. THK TREATY NOT RATIFIED. TIIK PREMIER'S STATEMENT. Per Press Association. Wellington, October 3. When ill" H"" se I'suni'J '^ st n'K" 1 Sir Joseph Ward moved the adoption of die report of the Extension of Commerce Committee,- lccogntslng the desirability ot establishing icdpiocal arrangement* «''"< Australia, but unable to leiommi tid the. House in tatify the reciprocity .realey huVide-l to it for investigation, b'-'caus.' 111 their epinl.,i) t.ic advantages ufteied are outweighed by the sacrifices imposed. The lion, the Premier at die same lime mov-d, "That in adopting i.ie rcpoit, this House desitc» to express its appreciation of the rxte.k-'iU public services tendered by Mr Dcakui and the la e Mr Seddon in their efforts to establish trade reciprocity between the Commonwealth and New Zealand, and hopes that a scheme may yet be devised which will be satisfactory 10 both countries.' The Premier said he proposed later on to introduce a Bill to place the matter on a proper basis, as otherwise every person who had been doing busings in the articles enumerated in the Treatv would have a' claim again*, the colony. No one regretted more than ho and his colleagues the fact thai the committee could not see its way io ratify the agreement entered into by the late Premier. They could imagine' the difficulty that would be experienced in framing a treaty that would be satisfactory tu all classes. It was only after exhaustive inquiry that the full effect of the proposed treaty could be realised. Mr Seddon's aim was a high and noble one, and his efforts would no doubt be rewarded by some practical result in the future. lie, however, very much rcgre.tcd that the Government could not support the proposed treaty. As he had said when placing the treaty before the House, the principal item was that of sugar. 11 diey carried out what was proposed in the treaty in respect to sugar, it would be placing the whole coionv in the hands of one powerful company, which did business both in New Zealand and Austialia, without giving any concession to the consumer in 'his colony, although they would be supplying revenue to the extent of /j.Sb.ooo. The only way to give the consumer the benefit was to remove the sugar duty in regard to the world at large. A careful examina.ion of the position by himself and his colleagues and the responsible officers of the Customs Department showed that the result of the operation of the treaty would be en irely different from what had b<en intended by Mr Seddon, in consequence of tho command of the sugar market, both in New Zealand and Australia, being in the hands of one company. He was quite sure 'hat if the late Premier were now a'.ive, he wou'd, with a full knowledge of the details gathered by exhaustive investigation, change his opinion as to the effect of the proposal in regard to sugar, lie did not propose 0 refer to the minor points of the treaty, as the sugar item was the all important one. They could not alter any items without destroying the whole treaty, otherwise some individual recommendations would have been made. He very much regretted being unable to take .he course lie would dearly have 'iked to take, by moving the ratification of the agreemnei entered into by the late Premier, but he hoped that ihe work already begun would be followed up in the future with good results.

Mr Masscy seconded the motion, and agreed with the sentiments expressed bv tlie Premier in regard .o the efforts of the late Premier and Mi Dcakin. The position was a diliicu't one to face, but he hoped some sa.isfactory anangement would be arrived at in the near future. It was not necessary lo discuss the proposed treaty at any lenjr'li. Only one witness examined before the Commute, the lepresentative of the canddt manufacturers, had expressed conruirence with the treaty, and it scem'd to him the candle manufacturers had a gcnuiii'' grievance. The duty n imported candles at present \v;ii one penny a pound, whil-t di;it on wax was :Jd a pound, thus allowing inly one farthing for New Zealand rnaiuifaciurers lo ccme and go on. lie thought duly on wax should be pmi'ted in regard to all countries. The main fact to be considered was that the colony wou ! d lose ,£i(>s.oo:j a >ear by tho operation of the treaty. Under the circumstances the tre.oy could not he agreed to. lc \va-, however, surprising that people of two lirilish countries should keep up the present

tariff wall, and that until the last year or two no attempts had been made to break it down. ll'-' hopicl that .the long;-piom,iscd i'-'vi'iori 'of "V*'-"> tariff wou'd he undcitaken by the Government ncx. year, and thai the iisuit would be the promotion of doner 'rack- relations between New Zealand and Australia and other British countries.

Mr Laurenson supported the tica y, advocating free Hour, and pointing out the advantage to mineral wateis, barley, oats, and hops. Mr Ell suppoited the Premier, declaring the proposed .reaty wou'd no; assist N/w Zealand industries. Mr liuddo considered it would be always hopeless to arrange a treaty with Australia. Mr T. MacKenzio pointed out the difficulty of dealing \vi h the Australian sugar monopoly and the impossibility of getting New Zealand produce into Aus ralia against the Australian fanners. Mr Hunan thought the whole advantage of the ttcaty «a- un the side of Australia. Mr Sc-ddon Considered tin: In aty had been diawn up in the in'trct of a fiee breakfast table, and that it was no. in favour of monnp ,'ie.s. Its abuse, as one-sided on b : "ii sides ot the Tastnan Sea. was significant, and he hoped with the Premier that a tieaty would in the near future be airanged. which would become, as tins one was intended, a link in he great Imperial connection. Mr Maliolm advocated t'.ie claims of local indu-iv without protection. Mr l!"KK thought tin- losses under th- tre.t y would be tot, gnat, especially in the sugar trade. Mr I'laman supported the motion oi the Pienu'er.

Mr Thomson was against the tieuty on tho whole. Ml' Ali-on lie- muti, n fur la.-- 5,,1... „f 'I-,,- fmil industry. The I'loini.-,. in it-p'v, i-U tie- opportunity »f <-xpr.-,N. IK his ~„],,, 'jiv with lie- -p-.-eih nl' Mi S.-dd m iha .-v-nine,. II.■ was mtiv at tin•urn thai mailer- had lake,,; lev .- ih.-hss. he ,i.r,iiia elated Mr Seddon lie went on t . explain t'ia the Government had ii-ecived so many i•---■ •- hitinu- and i epto. nta' i- ns lie- Meaty, lha- dlfy saw that the c "unlry was, it. In the matter nf Mi>;ar. lie pointed cm lie- i crtaintv. ucie lh'- - reatv to be adopted of I) ine ai the mcrev <-f a monopolv. 11<-i did inn ehjoe ti. sacrifice the ne.n'-y. His lute:'- hope was t;,;,', li„. \\l,;t,rare- en ho ll sides „f ,|,e walr mi«li* make a p-aHe valuable treaty in ih'-ii mutual intviest. Me ani'-'tl with, thii-i- -p-akeis v.hu had insisted, during the debate, thai b -lh tinla ni-ne; and the inaniifaciiiine, in-t.-nsls i-eqiiii'-d he must cartful xni--'d'-iaii.m. Willi the-e remaiks, he iustiioiis si.eiia'iiiv mieh pro'v the fot'i'Minei of a it-ally va'uable ani'iulne-n; "Thai the II „,.,,. adopt he i-ep.ni and de-ires. .-'„ .--|. „„ ,|-.e