TRANS-TASMAN TRADE

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 97, 26 April 1922, Page 5

TRANS-TASMAN TRADE

RECIPROCITY AGREEMENT. FAIR GIVE AND TAKE. (By C»b!e.—Press Association.— Copyright.) SYDNEY, April 25. The Hon. \V. Downie Stewart, New Zealand Minister of Customs, was the principal guest at a luncheon given by the National Club, which represents the social side of the Coalition Government. Mr. Pratten, a member of the Federal Senate, in -welcoming Mr. Stewart, expressed the hope that a fair give-and-1 take agreement had been reached between Australia and New Zealand. They all believed in _ preferential treatment for the Mother Country and reciprocal arrangement with the Dominions. Mr. Stewart, replying, said that trade reciprocity wae a very thorny question, consequently he was diflident about discussing the terms of the agreement, which would ultimately come before I both Governments for final acceptance 'or rejection. The Dominion and the Commonwealth were both isolated from the rest of the world, and both . were producing much the same products, making it difficult to arrange an cquitnble agreement. The fundamental difference was that Australia gave preference to Britain only, whereas New Zealand gave the same preference to the Dominions as well as the Mother Country. He reviewed the effects the Commonwealths latest tariff would have on New Zealand, and said that consequently Australia had been put by New Zealand outside the preference pale until adjustment was made, as New Zealand did not want her markets flooded. He thought free trade possible in some classes of goods, though he recognised it would be difficult to make a satisfactory agreement respecting primary products and manufactures. New Zealand's imports from Australia were considerably greater than Australia's imports from New Zealand, showing that Australia was more concerned in the trade than New Zealand. Furthermore, apart from commercial reasons, greater trading facilities and the promotion of intercourse would be advantageous from the sentimental point of view, tending to the cultivation of keener interest, in the affairs of both countries. (A. and N.Z. Cable.)