Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1937. THE EMBARGOES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 172, 4 May 1937, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1937. THE EMBARGOES.

Though the returned soldiers organisations in Australia and New Zealand may not, under their constitutions, be able to adopt the suggestion that they take action in regard to the trade dispute between the Dominion and Australia, the matter is one in which the public should make its influence felt. As Mr Leadley said, the dispute has been dragging on for years, and the people of both countries suffer. From time to time negotiations have taken place between members of the respective Governments and officials, but no settlement has been the outcome. The difference arose some years ago when, owing to an outbreak of disease among the potato crops in the Dominion, Australia placed an embargo on imports of the New Zealand product and this country retaliated by restrictions on imports of citrus fruits from across the Tasman. Whatever justification may have existed for the original action no longer holds good. The question, from being one of natural desire iO prevent the introduction of a potential danger to industry, has assumed the character of a tariff contest, each side, while professing anxiety to remove the disabilities, declining to do so unless trade advantages are conceded by the other. The people of the two countries generally have'no share in the dispute. While it remains unsettled they have to pay the piper in the shape of lost trade on the, one hand and of increased prices on the other. The only outcome of any action so far has been temporary mitigation of the trouble. What is required is a firm handling of the situation, with a single eye to the benefit of the public. If tariff adjustments are necessary for the development of trans-Tasman trade they should be considered from the general aspect, without any restrictions on commodities of such importance as potatoes and citrus fruits.