TRADE WITH CANADA

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2131, 24 April 1914, Page 8

TRADE WITH CANADA

AN IMPORTANT. CONFERENCE. (By TcleS'rapli,—J'rsss AeEotiaMon,) Auckland, April 23, A largo increase an trade totecofl New Zealand and Canada may. bo the oiUeonw of a roni'erenco which touit ■place toKfcjy between the Minister of Customs (tto Hob. P. M. B. Fisher) aud fto Canadian Trade C<Hniiik§i.o»cr (Mr. W. A, Beddoo). Suggestions wore, tnado with regard to proposed tariff adjustments which,, if ratified by bath Gwernmeßfrs, would liavo tho ctfuet indicated. Tiie proposals discussed by the JVBiusr for and Mr', fleddoo' were necessarily of a ■coaHdantjal nature, but tho geii» eral basis of tho conference was tho consideration of whether tariff a-rraiigc-. wonts could not bo adjusted to_ tho mutual advantage ef both. Dominions. l)j> till tho present the tariffs as between Canada and New /Sealant! have been based on a "girt awl take" prill* «ipte. I'm- example, C'jffiada gives No* Zealand jireferrtitiaf tariff oil butter, and Now' Zealand gives preference to Canada, on tho same produce, but it is Mr. Dcddoe's •contention that, tho benefit i's wholly New Zealand's, scoing that Canada imports largo qna3ititi.es of butter from this Dosiinion under preferential tariff, whores* Vow does not -ptireltaso any batter from Oniindn-. 'this'feature of reciprocity is. tberoforo non-effective s:» far as the sis-tor Dominion is concerned, ft is understood that air, lioddoo has snggest-od to Mr. Fisher that tho tariffs'between tho two countries should be pla*fid en a inoro reientiiie basis with a view ia having tho i-eve«iio secured for Customs duties equalised in both instances. The Canadian Trade Cammisskmor has not sviggostcd anything, wliicli would iittcrforo with or bo likely t«a reduce the C'nstofii-a revcnlM) in Sow Zealand, kit it is understood that he hopes to -seou.ro a tariff arrangement whteh will give to both Dominions tnriffi advantages which may bo recorded ns eo-wjual. Accofdiii.fi" to Mr! Beddoo this follows the spirit of tins New Zealand Customs Art of IfiOS in regard to pfefercntkl tariff. Whatever may bo done as the- result nf the coaforenio hrt'wecti the Minister diul Mr. Beiidoe will first be submitted ■ to the respective Ooveniiiioiits,