TRANS-TASMAN TRADE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 January 1939, Page 5

TRANS-TASMAN TRADE

TALK OF BREACH OF SPIRIT OF AGREEMENT RESTRICTIONS UNDER CONTROL POLICY. NO OFFICIAL ACTION EXPECTED. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. • Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. __ The “Sydney Morning Herald's" Canberra correspondent says that although the New Z'ealand control policy constitutes no legal breach of the trade agrement made with Australia twelve months ago, the imposition of restrictions outside the duties then adopted could reasonably be regarded as a breach of the spirit of the agreement, according to the opinion of officials in Canberra. The effects of the new policy will be discussed by the Federal Cabinet at its meeting in Hobart, next .month, but no official action is likely to be taken. POTATO EMBARGO DEFENDED BY AUSTRALIAN MINISTER. DENIAL OF BITTERNESS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. In defending the embargo imposed by the Commonwealth Government on New Zealand potatoes, the AssistantMinister for Commerce, Mr Thompson, said it was obvious that there was no case for lifting the embargo other than on sentimental grounds. He added that potato growers throughout Australia had been most insistent upon the maintenance of the embargo. "It is not true," he said, “that there has been any bitterness between the Australian and New Zealand Governments on this matter. The viewpoint of the Australian potato growers has been accepted in New Zealand as a perfectly natural one.”