CUSTOMS WALLS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 141, 17 June 1930, Page 8

CUSTOMS WALLS.

e\ ■ ■ TRANS-TASMAN TRADE. MINISTERS CONTEB. SOME OF THE DIFFICULTIES. When the Commonwealth Minister for Trade arid Customs, the Hon. E. J. Fenton, was in Auckland yesterday, passing through by the Aorangi on Ms return home, the Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle, Minister of Industries and Commerce, took the opportunity to confer with him on tariff matters that have been in need of some adjustment. Nothing definite was reached, but the ground was cleared, and the Dominion's standpoint was fully explained. Dr. G. Craig, Comptroller of Customs in New Zealand, also took part in the conference. Mr. Fenton expressed the desire on behalf of his Government that there should bo closed co-operation between New Zealand and Australia. Mr. Perrelle said that New Zealand and Australia we;e -very closely allied, and it was a pleasure *to hear Mr. Fenton's assurance. Speaking this morning, Mr. Perrelle recalled that in 1922 the Governments of Australia an! New Zealand arranged a tariff agreement under which certain concessions were made by each country. Tt came into force in New Zealand on September 1, 1922, but since then it had been modified from time to time. While the agreement had been in operation various debatable questions has arisen between the two countries, and for the most part conclusions satisfactory to the New Zealand Government had been arrived at, but it was felt that the time had now arrived when there should be direct negotiations between representatives of the two Goyernir ents—hence the conference yesterday. The increase by Australia of the duty on New Zealand butter, cheese and potatoes in 1928 immediately led to a considerable reduction in the" New Zealand exports across the Tasman. It was only fair to say, however, that an increase in the tariff on butter was necessary if the Australian scheme of regulation, generally known as the Paterson plan, was to be maintained. The Australians, urged that New Zealand had increased the duty on wheat and flour, and that was equally injurious to Australia's trade with the Dominion. Mr. Perrelle pointed out that the position as far as New Zealand's action was concerned was different from that of Australia. When the agreement was made between the two countries, in 1922/ there was an atfWe embargo an. New Zealand against, the importation of Australian wheat and flour and any duty was therefore better for Australia, for it did allow the importation of those commodities, whereas when the embargo was in force Zealand °" UCe C ° UM be Sent into New '