NEW ZEALAND AND CANADA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 167, 17 July 1931, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND AND CANADA.

When, referring to the fact that he did not return from England via Canada,, the Prime Minister said in the House yesterday that he declined "to go round crawling after people for trade advantages,"' he expressed himself unfortunately. It was not a dignified utterance, and pushed to its limit it inigLt moan that the Government would refuse to enter into any such negotiations. It i≤ unfair, however, to suggest that Mr. Forbes is wiolly or mainly responsible for the impasse between T-his country and Canada. He has negotiated without success. While he was in Canada, the Canadian Government put up the duty on our t inter, and he was told in London that there was no use his reiuriiimr by Canada with the idea of improving the situation. Pie allowed some time to pass before increasing his measure of retaliation, and during that time, presumably, negotiations of some sort proceeded. Canada must accept most of the responsibility for what has happened, and information that we published yesterday shows that the retaliatory action of the New Zealand Government is regarded in that country as the only sort of move that appeals to the Canadian authorities. Probably before long Canada will approach Xew Zealand for the negotiation of a treaty similar to Australia's. If the Canadian Government does not do so, Mr. Forbes will lose none of his dignity by reminding Ottawa politely that we are still ready to re-open the matter.