MUTUAL TRADE

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 38, 8 November 1933, Page 8

MUTUAL TRADE

Canada & New Zealand TREATY EXTENDED Question of New Agreement By an Order-in-Couneil made yesterday and which will be published in this week’s Gazette, the trade agreement between Canada and New Zealand has been extended for a further period of six months from November 24 next. The agreement was brought into force on Maj 24, 1932, and was to remain in force for a period of one year, but by mutual agreement it was extended until November 23 of this The Minister of Customs, Rt, Hon. J. G. Coates, stated last evening that when the Prime Minister, Rt Hon. G. W. Forbes, and the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Hon. R. Masters, were returning in August from the World Monetary and Economic Conference they took the opportunity of discussing the agreement with Canadian Ministers, and since their return to New Zealand the Government had had under consideration the question of entering into a new agreement with Canada. Owing, however, to the forthcoming revision of the New Zealand Customs tariff following the tariff investigation now being made, it had been decided to hold over consideration of the matter and to extend the present trade agreement until May 23 next. There had been an increase in the trade between the two countries since the agreement came into force. The exports of New Zealand produce to Canada for the past 12 months were valqed at £572,822, whereas for the 12 months prior to the agreement the value was £188,332. This showed an increase of more than 200 per cent. During the past 12 months the importations into New Zealand of Canadian goods were valued at £1,062,085, which represents an increase of 19 per cent, over the value of the importations for the 12 months prior to the agreement —viz,, £896,384. The values of the principal goods of Nqw Zealand origin exported to Canada during the past 12 months were as under :— £ Butter 55,505 Frozen meat 4,626 Sausage casings 119.701 Fresh apples 12,358 Hides and calfskins ... 172,952 Sheep skins 29,919 Sheep pelts 4.563 Wool 135,981