CANADIAN DUTY ON BUTTER.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20274, 27 June 1931, Page 17

CANADIAN DUTY ON BUTTER.

DISCUSSION AT OTTAWA. NEW ZEALAND'S ATTITUDE. (CWITID PBISS ASSOCIATION —BT BtECTMO TELBOEAPH—COPiaiQHT.) OTTAWA, June 2». In the House of Kepresentatives the Hon. W. D. Fuller (Liberal) questioned the Premier on a Press report quoting Mr Forbes aa saying that New ZeS/l&nd -nras willing to negotiate an agreement with Canada, but that no developments had occurred. Mr Bennett said he did not 'know whether he could speak without consulting document', but he might say that one of his first experiences on taking office was the receipt of a message from New Zealand addressed to the Prime Minister. At that time it was apparently meant for Mr Mackenzie King. In that cable strenuous objection was taken to the cancellation of the agreement under which New Zealand butter came into Canada. Afterwards certain steps were taken by the Prime Minister of New Zealand to make it less easy for Canadian goods to enter his country. After the tariff had been raised the matter was discussed with Mr Forbes in Ottawa. Mr Forbes represented the attitude of New Zealand, which /was the same then as had recently been expressed in the. Press. A suggestion had been made that one of the Canadian Ministers might go to New Zealand and one of New Zealand's Ministers come to Canada. Some Boards of Trade and Chambers of Commerce had interested themselves, but in.every instance some difficulty arose in respect of butter. The Government had come bo no decision in regard to sending a Minister, but it was under, consideration, .. - ~ Mr Mackenzie King said the cable the Premier referred to was in answer to one sent to Mr Forbes, m which it was stated that th? duty against New Zealand butter would be tour cents a pound, pending a revision or the agreement when Mr Forbes returned from the Imperial Conference. On the day Mr Forbes arrived the duty against New Zealand butter had been increased from four to eight cents; and Mr Forbes had said afterwards that the door had been slammed in New Zealand's face. Mr Bennett said he did not agr«* with all the Mr King. So far as the raising of the duty from four to eight cents was concerned, tne record was there, he said, that raised the duty because we thought we owed a duty to Canadian btrtter producers rather than to New Zealand producers."

TRADE TREATY WITH AUSTRALIA. SIGNATURE ANNOUNCED. OTTAWA, Jtu» * The terms of the trade agreement between Canada and Australia, probably will be' announced in the House on July Bth, Mr R. B. Bennett, Prime Minister, announced to-day when stating that Canada had Bigned an agreement which had been, mailed to Australia. The latter had executed agireement which also had been mailed to Canada. These would reach their destinations probably on W oth or ; 6th, and a statement would be possible shortly afterwards. . , The Government of Australia aesirea that the statement in respeet the] agreement should be released, sfcmil-j taneously, and, as soon, as the copies , have readied, their. t there | will be no, delay. • .

TRANSPORT SYSTEM IN CANADA. NATIONALISATION PROPOSALS. OTTAsvWA, June $5He f appomtinent of a Commission to investigate the general transportation situation in Canada was suggested- by Sit Henry. Thornton, president of the Canadian National Railways • before the Parliamentary ■ Committee o*l Railway, and Shipping tor day. A national transportation policy could be devised, not only concerning railways, but also the St. Lawrence waterways, highway and bus traffic, and general shipping, he said; "The Commission should be com* posed of business men, economists and ciexi schooled in industrial find tr&ufc matters/' said Sir Henry. "Some d&r cision should be reached as to whether the Canadian Government Merchant Marine Fleet of 30 freight ships should be continued.. We should either go into business with effective" weapons* or get out of it." . ' Sir Henry also said that it was folly t'o continue as at present with boats deteriorating and becoming antiquated. "Personally, I recommend that we'get out of the business,"- he said. When Di\ Peter McGibbon _ (Conservative) asked, in connexion with the suggested commission, if the amalgamation of all the transport - systems should be considered, Sir Hepry said that he would not defipe its.;limits oi reference. _ ' ' . Before the committee on the previous day Sir Henry' said that Canadian National Railways was considering a scheme of pooling its passenger snips on the Pacific coast with those of the Canadian Pacific line and extending the present services of the two companies to San. Francisco. They now extend from Seattle to Alaska, with many service's between, .

CANADIAN WHEAT BOARD UNLIKELY. ; OTTAWA, June 25- ■: In a statement in the House of Commons the Prime Minister (Mr E. Bi Bennett) indicated strong doubt whether a Dominion Wheat Board would be established, as requested by the three prairie provinces. Mr Bennett stated that A recent •decision of the Privy Council (on newsprint) had declared that the Dominion had no authority to fix prices or tike over the sovereign powers of the provinces.