Australia-New Zealand Tariff Questions

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 63, 8 December 1930, Page 13

Australia-New Zealand Tariff Questions

Sir, —The information published in jour journal of to-day's date gives food for'serious thought. li’or the period from 1022 to September, 1930, there is a balance of well over £16,000,000 against us. And IB face of this,, apparently a demand for a further measure of preference is likely to be made. It is to be hoped that the New Zealand Government will decline to consider any preference to the Commonwealth until the prohibitive duties on New Zealand produce, amounting almost to an embargo, are removed. A revision of the present agreement is desirable, as stated by Mr. Forde, Assistant Commonwealth Minister of Customs, but not further in the interests of Australia, which, ike the United States of America, wants the trade all one way. It is high time that steps were taken by the Dominion Government to bring about a more even balance of trade, and any conversations between the two countries should be in that direction. Representations from the Associated Chambers of Commerce on the matter in question would be very opportune at this time, and it is to be hoped that they will make themselves heard in no way. Apart from the unfavourable trade balance vast sums have left this country for Australia, and the Australian banks operating in the Dominion are scraping in all they can for transfer across the Tasman to assist their clients and institutions there, probably also to help find the money required by Mr. Lang. It is urgently necessary for strong measures to be taken to protect New Zealand interests. Conditions demand it, and I trust that the Government fully recognises the need for keeping money in the Dominion, and that it will prevent Australian banks from operating here to the detriment of our own people.—l am, etc., N.Z. WeUiJiaion. November