The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 1914. TRADE WITH AMERICA.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2016, 25 March 1914, Page 6

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 1914. TRADE WITH AMERICA.

Ti-ffi presence in Wellington of an American Tyado Commission naturally ditccts attention to the relations of Jtow Zealand with the United btates, and the possibility of h> ci-oasing tie trade between the two countries in directions which would be advantageous to each. The ing «t tha Tariff Bill last year was tto inauguration of a new commercial era „ far ? s the great North American Itepublie is concerned, and «ie free entry of such products as wool, butter, and meat cannot be a mafctot of indifference b> a country ft JEoaJand in view «f the. fact that these articles foi-ra tlso bulk of its export trade. Tho opening of tho Panama Canal must also exercise a material Influence on our intercourse with America. The alteration in the trade outlook resulting trotn . these two important events m&Kes the present an opportune time i tor seetaig new avenues for trade and planning new commercial arrangements ; and it is with this oil-! jeefcin view that the National■ Association oJ Mamil&ctuiws of tho United States has- sent ou tour the Oommission which is now gathering informatjon in Now Zealand. Tfe Uofiitttksionerß make it quite plain ■that they are hers to do business, iney have not come on a phi lan* .ttiropie mission for tho purpose of offering something for nothing, they assure us thst the United States has n tremendous market to offer for our produce, a-nd that there is .a dear road into it; bat. they naturally want .a quid pro qttt>. They state that if hew Zealand wants'to obtain and retain a permanent hold on this great market to trade will have to be on a reciprocal basis. In this connection jt should be borne in miiid that the Tariff Act gives tfte President authority to cuter into special commercial ajKCerocats with other countries. The New Zealand Customs Duties Act of. 1908 gives power to the bOV-BBNOE to make reciprocal treaties. An agreement of thw kiji-d already exists with British bowth Africa, and proposals for wciproeity with Australia, would probably have been ratified last year were it not for the ung&ttlcd state of federal politics, The groat struggle for supremacy between tho Wo Australian parties has for th* present- prevented the- ■ Completion of tte pre.limi.narj agreoffleflt arrived at by the Kgw Zealand Minister d Customs- (Mn. Piskeb) with Mβ Andrew Fisheb, who was then Federal Prime Minister, but who is now .Leader of the Labour Opposition. 'Mμ. Look, the present Prime Minister, has expressed sympathy with tho proposal, but has not yet been able to conchHjfl the negotiations. A satisfactory reciprocity treaty is by no means easy to grange, because so many interests have to be considered, iiach side naturally wants to make chs best bargain, and there is always tho possibility af local industries being.adversely affected by any. concessions ■■ that • may fcv granted£°ra great many years to coiiio the Umtod lungdms jtßust bo New Zeaia»as best enstoaiw, but an eater•prismg co-unti-y will always seize upon new openings for its staple products, and take advantage of every oppoi-tnjiity that may arise for fcho fercplltabla expansion o f its trade it may, therefore, bo tafc-n for granted that any sttggestions which the American Commissioners mav roako for the mutual advantage of J%-w Zealand andth.6 Uiiitedt States t?ill receive .the careful attention of the trt>w«nmtmi. a-n«l tha. business toWntimiv ol this Dominion, rhat the Xow Zealand oovernfflenfc recogni-ses tile great possibilities which the United States offofs as a niorkot for otir products is Sfeown by its decisian to provide for a ? adequate display of. the rcsoitrees of Jfev ZnaJam at the fortlieOiniag Panama Eshibrtjqn.. Austl-a-liaa Commonwealth will also scad an exhibit, ml, though the British dcetdfld to stand aloof, a gtronfi effort is being mad© to bring 'about an nltera-tio-n w this attitude: In new of .the rie.nd.ly ttlntknte tow existing betiM&n B r ifc a i n and America, many people feel that' it would, be a great .pity if the Imperial anthontics took no pert, in the great Panama, b'how. Th- n abseaeo of an official British display would «rUimly caiiso disaupomtmeji't, if m i bitterness, ospeciaJly wl-ien it i s borae lnmnul that. pretJaratm-ns a >n'no«r being ma& for the fitting «elebratwn of the hundred , .years' peace, between. Britain .nnd A.m«jrka. And in tins connection one c-Mia.ot help remertormg the coaragcous "foebiek in winch Pbubidbk* AVitsoN ig ;4 present cfampioniug the cause of Bnfatiß as regards the Panama tell- & toa anew mpg h> the world by the manner in whHi Iμ Uas-plaeed the honour of his co«n* try before all other considerations. Ho GODtendß that the Act eswmtite American shippiag f»m thepaTinenfc of tolls is a breach of Britain'sMaty rifchte, mi that Interftatinna! honesty and hn. dealing dcma-nrl that this exemption should be repealed, In view of tbuso facts one sanjiofc help tcolin-g that it. would be a graceful act on tfo part ol tlw Imperial Government to fill up flic rcg«!ttablo gap in the Panama Exhibition, which would bo caused by fia absence of British representation. A .vcrv friendly feeling has always existed m Now Zealand tt* wards the- United States, and recent events _ cannot fail'to draw the two countries oven closer together. Australia, Canada, am \ Nely K ea { illnd ; will probably havo to undertake greater responsibilities in th* fut'-rrc than in the past as regards the 1 policing of the Pacific, and in this! matter wft would, bo pleased to foel: that we could reckon on the frictidly op-operation of the United States. Such a visit as that which the American Commissioners are now paying to New Zealand cannot fail to do Bond, even if its special object is not i fully realised. Our gliosis will have- opportunities of obtaining fii'sC Imiiil infornia-tion regarding tbe products and people of Now" Zeal and, } and accurate knowledge ftncl p«rsonsil exchange of ideas nnt-nrall.v tend to improve ti*a<fc,relations,and to promote mutual feelings of goodwill between civilised nations.