UNDER TRADE TREATY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 33, 9 February 1927, Page 10

UNDER TRADE TREATY

EXPERTS TO AUSTRALIA

STRIKING EFFECTS INDICATED

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Pojt.")

DTJNEDIN, This Day

At dinner, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, speaking.of trade with Australia, said'he had read lately a Northern • criticism ■of the trade treaty with the Commonwealth. It had been said that it had not come up to expectations, and that New Zealand was not getting the benefit from it that was expected. In reply to this, he would-'like to supply them with a *ew-figpes tp;;prove ;that the Northern critic lfad Overlooked. . good many important/facts., vHe had considered the position in-the ■gross"; without making a study of details.

;One of the most important features of'the trade between Australia and NewiZealand since the reciprocal tariff agreement was made was the increase in exports to Australia of goods-which entered Australia at lower rates of duty obtained by thiß agreement. Exports generally had increased, but in the case of items for which special concessions were obtained from Australia ' the increase was most striking. The total value of these exports rose from an average of £46,110 prior to the agreement to £284,979 in 1924 £136,732 in 1925, and £418,087 for eleven months in 1926, or £456,095 for tha complete year of 1926. The figures' for 1926 showed that there had been a decrease^ in :the importation of manufactured goods from Australia of approximately £200,000, a decrease of 10 per cent. ,