COMMERCIAL RELATIONS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 48, 26 February 1913, Page 3

COMMERCIAL RELATIONS

IMPORTANT CONFERENCE. . AUCKLAND, 25th February. Negotiations toward more cordial commercial i relations among the . overseas Dominions have been proceeding by correspondence for some- months. They will be the _ subject of two important conferences in Melbourne next month, which will be attended by representatives of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Inter-trade relations have been discussed among these three countries and also South Africa. It was hoped that the Union Government would be represented at the forthcoming confer* ence, but apparently the political crisis which has arisen owing to a sharp difference between General Hertzog and General Botha has made it difficult for any members of tne Union Government to visit Australia. One conference will be between Australia and New Zealand. Itspurport is primarily to achieve trade reciprocity between the two countries. Discussing the larger conference to-day, Mr. Fisher said that it had been arranged at the suggestion of the New Zealand Government. It was unfortunate that no representative of South Africa would be ' present, but the four ' Governments had all expressed hopes that the conference would be successful in*drawing the overseas Dominions into closer trade relationship. Questions relating to the tariffs of the four countries and interchange of goods would be the principal matters for consideration. "There is one important matter which I hope will be discussed," said Mr. Fisher ; " thatis the fact that 'great difficulty is experienced. by many New Zealand shippers in obtaining space in ves- | sela of the Vancouver service. The Union Steam Ship Company at present holds j the key of the position. For a long time the New Zealand Government has been" subsidising the service, but the balk of the cargo space has been rilled i with Australian produce, though the Commonwealth Government makes no contribution towards the maintenance of the service. I think it is about time wo took care in New Zealand that while our subsidy is continued a fair , share of available space should be secured for New Zealand shipments. Without regular access to space it is practically impossible to build up permanent trade between the two Dominions."