RECIPROCITY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 2, 27 June 1911, Page 2

RECIPROCITY.

NEW ZEALAND AND CANADA. | Sir Joseph Ward had a great reception I at Winnipeg, where he stayed over April 1 1 He was entertained in the spacious | Manitoba Hall, where 700 persona, re- | [irescntative of ttie commercial, banking! iind professional classes, gathered at the ?all of the local Canada Club, to hear the righ hon. gentleman speak on Imperial issues. On the above .subject Sir Joseph is reported to have said: The thought passing through my mind for the moment is in what, direction the two oversea dominions—the one that I have the honor to represent, and this jreatest child of the Jimpirc,Canada —can mutually advance each other's interests. I can offer the earnest of New Zealand's desire in this object in some of our legislation of the la-st eight years. This legislation has had for its great main purpose the closer commercial unity between the two countries. New Zealand in 11)03 established a preferential 'tariff in favor of Canada and the rest of the British Empire, and we have on two subsequent occasions since—in 1007 and 1008 —substantially increased that preference. This has been done, as perhaps you are aware, by means of a surtax on the imports from foreign countries. At present 93 out of a total of 480 items on the New Zealand tariff have preference by means of this surtax in favor of Canada and the rest of the British Empire, and as the outcome of the preferential tariff established there has been a -steady decrease in the importation from foreign countries to New Zealand of the articles subject to this surtax, and more than a corresponding increase in the importation of these articles from Canada and other British sources. CANADA'S LARGEST SHARE. 1 am glad to say that Canada has shared more than proportionately in this increase. To give somo idea in concrete of what this preferential tariff means, I may say that we are foregoing upwards of two millions five hundred thousand dollars per annum in the shape of Customs duties, in order to show preference to goods from British sources, including Canada; that is to say, we sacrilleed 12.50 per cent, of our total Customs revenue on these items in order to favor goods made in British countries. lam personally, and I am sure you all are, very proud of this. A sacrifice is the l>est test of friendship, whether it ,be social or commercial. Last year nearly 25,000,000 dollars worth of imports into New Zealand had the advantage of this preferential treatment—British, including Canadian. RECIPROCITY WITH CANADA. I have referred to the fact that I was in Winnipeg in 1595. At that time I crossed over to Ottawa, for the special purpose of endeavoring to arrange a reciprocal treaty between Canada and New Zealand, and also for the purpose of establishing a mail and passenger steamer service from Vancouver to New Zealand and thence to Australia. I remained in Ottawa two or three days, and completed both the reciprocal treaty and an agreement for Canada and New Zealand to support a line of steamers, the one really being auxiliary to the other. Unfortunately ' circumstances arose which prevented the final ratification of these arrangements. lam glad, however, to say that the Governments of the two dominions—Canada and New Zealand—have re< cently agreed to further one of these objects—namely, the establishment of a fast and regular steamship mail and passenger communication, the ships to be furnished with cold storage accommodation for perisha'ble cargo, and the service to commence running in July next. I predict that its .results will be of mutual benefit to both countries, even better than our best expectations, and amply justify the closer commercial union towards which it aims. Ido not propose to deal upon the present occasion with the advantages which, in my opinion, would arise to both Canada'and New Zealand from an extended commercial reciprocity, excepting to say, on behalf of New Zealand, that I favor the interests of both dominions. Apart from any mutuality, New Zealand recognises the advantages of a closer connection with this great conned ion I. so long as I am the leader of the Government of my country, will steadily work.