CANADA AND AUSTRALIA.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 85, 11 April 1925, Page 7

CANADA AND AUSTRALIA.

DEADLOCK OVER TREATY. OTTAWA, April 10. Various members of the Opposition have asked the Government questions as to the position in regard to the trades treaty between Canada and Australia. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Arthur Meighen) asked why the treaty had not been "brought down for action." The Minister of Trade and Commerce (Mr. James Robb) replied that the treaty had not yet been completed, owing to the fact that the Australian Government bad changed its schedules. Under the original draft goods were to gain preference if 25 per cent of British materials and labour were employed in their manufacture, but this was increased by the Australian Government to 75 per cent. Unless the Canadian Government can obtain further concessions from the Australian Government, the fate of the treaty will be uncertain. Mr. W. L. Mackenzie King's Government will never submit the treaty to Parliament unless the measure is certain to be passed, and the farmers of the Opposition will not be satisfied until the bogy of the threatened increase in the cost of living, owing to the fruit preferences, is eliminated. A hopeful sign is the fact that the strongest industrial forces in Canada, namely, the motor car and paper trades, are strongly supporting the measure. It is believed that their influence will probably assure the success of the treaty in the end.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.)