MR. SEDDON IN AUSTRALIA.

Evening Post, Volume LXXI, Issue 134, 7 June 1906, Page 5

MR. SEDDON IN AUSTRALIA.

MORE DINNERS AND RECEPTIONS. KECIPROCTTY NEGOTIATIONS. (.PRESS ASSOCIATION.! MELBOURNE, 6th June. Last evening Sir John Forrest, tho Federal Treasurer, gar© a dinner in honour of Mr. Bcddon. The guests included 'Mr. Deakin, Sir William Lyne, Sir Malcolm (M'Eachern, and the Judges of the High Court of Australia. Speeches of a complimentary character were made. . Mr. Seddon to-day visited Bendigo. He was welcomed by tho Mayor and leading citizens. Subsequently v public reception was held, and places of interest visited. To-morrow Mr. Seddon is to lunch with tho Speaker of the Federal Parliament, and wiil attend the opening of Parliament. The negotiations with Mr. Deakin over tho reciprocal proposals hare been narrowed down to two or three issues of a somewhat important nature. It is possible a compromise may be arranged regarding thss-o. (Received Juno 7, 9.30 a.m.) •MELBOURNE, This Day. The Federal Cabinet has further discussed the question of preference with New Zealand. Mr. Deakin states that certain suggestions are under review, and will bo submitted to Mr. Seddon today. When full details ar© published, it will be founu that there has been no curtailment in the list of articled. THE RECIPROCITY QUESTION. Last week a deputation of repiesentatives from the Chamber of Manufacturers waited upon Mr. Seddon (Premier of New Zealand), with regard to tho question of a reciprocal tariff between youth Australia and New Zealand. A deputation from the Fruitgrowers' Association also asked that the restriction upon the importation of fresh grapes into New Zealand should bo removed. The deputation (according to the full reports published in the local papers) wished to make a proposal for a reduction in tho New Zealand duty of 50 per cantum upon the following goods, being the produce of the. Commonwealth :—: — 1. Dried fruits ; present New Zealand tariff. 2d per lb. 2. Dried currants and raisins, Id per lb. 6. Fruits preserved in juice, etc., §5 per cant, ad valorem. 4. Olivo oil, 6d per gallon. 5. Wine, Australian, up to 35 per cant, of propf spirits, 53 per gallon. It is desired that Australian wine should be nllov/cd up to 40 per cent, of proof spirit, as imported is. 6. That the tariff on grape brandy should be reduced from 16s per proof gallon to the same rate as the 'Australian duty, viz., lls per proof gallon. _ 7. Fresh grapes, t!io importation of which into Now Zealand is now absolutely prohibited, should be allowed to be- imported upon being acoompanicd by a certificate that the same are free from disease, such certificate to be given by a responsible officer of tho State Department of Agriculture or other official to be nmncd by the New Zealand Government. One speaker raid that at present grapes in Now Zealand wore realising 2s 6d a pound, while South Australia could put them- on the market for from 4d to 6d a lb. Mr. Seddon, in reply, said that in 1896 Sir Joseph Ward and Mr. Kingston entered into a preferential agreement, and in 1897 he himself submitted certain proposals to South Australia. His contention was that if they had intercolonial reciprocity or prsferenlial treatment tho j effect would be as marked as in tho case of that" between Great Britain nnd Now Zealand. On Thursday or Friday next he had to ccc the Primo Minister of tha Commonwealth, and ho Bjiould say it was quite- possible that thcro would be a Tariff Bill introduced shortly in the New Zealand Parliament, dealing with these questions. It would bo for the deputations to impress on t\\c Primo Minister and the Commonwealth Parliament what they desired, because it wan the Federal Parliament alone that could give iti to them. New Zealand w«s ready ana willing to reciprocate, but New Zeolandcrs did not wish to foieu their desires on South Australia or any other country. They were independent, but not indifferent to that which would -be of advantage- to their ncip;J>liouvß. They believed they were building up Something that would bo a lower of strength to tho Empire, and they should assist each other in. the project. As kgorded fruit, ho preferred to get Ihfi ingredients for his plum duff from Australia, rather than from Spurn or «uy other country. He fully appreciated (hut South Australians grew olivos to perfection, nnd ho did not think tlinro would bo any difficulty about olivo oil. ThoM migjit be some difficulty about wlno, jo which they wore giving prcfownon m New Zoaland, though ho freely ndmltlod that South Australian wino« uompttrod favourably with the winos of tho worm. New Zealand was prepared to fjlvo (in advantage in trade to AustnUiu. It wax a question for Australia whether hlio was prepared to deal fairly with Now Zealand, and give Somo little lulvmUiiUß in return. Such trado reciprocity oiiifliti to be established. Then, instond of N«W Zealand running her boats empty I)P< tweeu Iho two Sktos, they would l>« able to load goods and incwuw Iriidfl to the mutual advantngo of South Australia and New Zealand. If in tlollitf this New Zealand could help South Alih' tralia he would bo only too pleated to 1)6 the means of giving that hel£ t