AUSTRALIA AND CANADA

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 80, 1 October 1924, Page 9

AUSTRALIA AND CANADA

AGREEMENT WILL HELP NEW

Zealand!

In replying to Mr. E. A. Bansom (Pahiatuaj in the House of Representatives yesterday, the Minister of Customs stated that the trade agreement arranged between Australia and Canada is an attempt to improve the trade relations between Australia and Canada, and which are not on as satisfactory a basis a3 the relations between New Zealand and Canada. Australia does not grant to other Dominions its British Preference except in co far as a special treaty has been arranged. New Zealand, on tffe other hand, grants to Canada and receives from her the British Preferential rates both ways. The result is that trade relations between New Zealand and Canada have for years past beenon a much more satisfactory basis than that existing between Australia and Canada. This is shown by the exports from New Zealand to Canada, as compared with the exports from Australia to Canada The imports into Canada from Australia in 1922 amounted to £226,310, and from New Zealand to £387,717; in 1924, the value was £240*--000 from Australia, and from New Zealand £451,000.

On the other hand the exports from Canada to Australia are much larger than from Canada to New Zealand, though perhaps not larger relatively to the population. The exports from Canada to Australia in 1922 were £2,----321,463, and to New Zealand £897,564; in 1924, ,the exports to Australia were £4,095,000, and to New Zealand £2,-

'I have reason to believe," eaid ths Minister, "that any concessions granted to Australia under, the new trade agreement will automatically accrue for the benefit of New Zealand, though I am not able to ascertain this officially without communicating with Canada. It will be seen, therefore, that not only does New Zealand enjoy a much more favourable trade with Canada than does Australia, but any agreement which helps Australia will alao in all probability help Now Zealand. lam of sTiuXttrV' " P°SSibl6 t0 in *rOV6