TRADE AGREEMENT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1341, 19 January 1912, Page 5

TRADE AGREEMENT.

CANADA AND AUSRRALIA. STEP rN DIRECTION" OF IMPERIAL PREFERENCE. Br Telegraph-Press Association—Copyright London, January 17. The "Morning Post" applauds Canada's proposals in connpcliou with the trade agreement with Australia. Air. W. Max. Aitkcn, M.P. for Ashton-undor-Lyno, and who is connected with vurious manufacturing undertakings in Canada, in an interview declared that a trade agreement between Canada and Australia marks a step in (lie direction of Imperial preference, which would be most beneficial to Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Dr. Parkin, author, and lecturer on Imperial federation, states that hitherto it has been assumed that it would bo useless to enter into a preferential arrangement in which Great Britain had not taken part. The present Government was tho outcome of the rebuff tho Dominions had- met with in trying to negotiate a similar scheme for a united Empire. AN OBJECT LESSON. London, January 17. The High Commissioner for New Zealand, Sir William Hall-Jones, interviewed, said New Zealand was carrying on a nice trade with Vancouver, and that he hoped the projected reciprocal scheme would give a further stimulus thereto. While tho arrangements would be calculated to benefit the three countries commercially, it would likewise possess sentimental advantages by more closely connecting thoso countries. He added that it would be an object-lesson for all who had been studying Imperial preference, whether from a favourable or a hostile standpoint. WHAT AUSTRALIA IS PREPARED TO DO. (Rec. January 19, 1.15 a.m.) Sydney, January 18. The Federal Government is prepared to give Canada and New Zealand the benefit of the British preferential duties tariff, provided Australian goods are allowed to enter those countries at British rates. A Bill will bo introduced next session to provide that preference shall apply to Canadian goods, but several items will probably be excepted. Mr. Tudor declared that if they had a reciprocal treaty there would have been no difficulty about subsidising mail steamers, but it is not advisable to grant a subsidy to steamers calling at' New Zealand unless there is reciprocity. During the year 1910 Australia exported ,£BO,OOO worth of goods to Canada. Had a preferential rate been in existence they would have saved =£7727. Canadian exports to Australia during the same period amounted to ,£11,029, and preference would have saved .£3400.