CANADIAN TREATY

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 91, 12 January 1932, Page 8

CANADIAN TREATY

Prime Minister’s Comment LINES INDICATED Same Footing as Australia POSITION OF BUTTER Dominion Special Service. Christchurch, January 11. “The agreement which has been reached by the Minister of Customs, the Hon. W. D. Stewart, with the Hon. H. H. Stevens, Minister of Trade and Commerce for Canada, on the subject of «. new trade agreement between New Zealand and Canada will be along the same lines I understand as the'treaty made between Canada and Australia some months ago,” said the Prime Minister to-day when commenting on the announcement that an agreement had been reached at the meeting in Honolulu between Mr. Stewart and Mr. Stevens. “Under the Australia-Canada treaty the great bulk of commodities exported from Canada are granted a substantial preference in Australia, and in return Canada gives Australia British preferential tariff on the bulk of the items imported, with lower rates than British preferential ones, on 28 items of the tariff,” said Mr. Forbes. “Under the treaty Australian butter was admitted to Canada at 14/- a cwt. less than New Zealand butter, but this position should be righted with the treaty. AustraUan goods which enter Canada at lower rates than the British preferential tariff include fresh and canned meats, eggs, dairy produce, hops, rice and fruits. “I have no . doubt,” said Mr. Forbes, “that'the result of the conference will place the relations between Canada and New Zealand on a better than before. ’ The conference has achieved what we hoped to do when we passed through Ottawa on the way to the Imperial Conference last year. One of the things we asked was that Canada Should go into the question of duty on butter with us, but the Canadian Prime Minister would not agree to this and put on the duties without giving us an opportunity of speaking. “We now welcome the fact that there has been an opportunity of discussing the question, and it is pleasing to know that complete. agreement has been reached. t , “Whatever has been done will, of course, have to be ratified by Cabinet?’ said Mr. Forbes. “Will legislation be needed to make the tariff alterations?” asked the reporter. ; ■ ' “We can act by Order-in-Council if necessary,” replied Mr. Forbes. | HASTE, URGED Auckland Resolution By Telegraph—Press Association. >\ Auckland, January 11. The Auckland' wholesale grocery merchants telegraphed to-day to the Prime Minister urging that the Hon. W. Downie Stewart be cabled with the object of arranging with the Canadian Minister of Customs that the results of the new agreement be immediately made effective by Cabinet sanction and brought into force under Order-in-Coun-cil, thus avoiding the delay necessary to secure ratification by both Parliaments.