MONDAY'S TEST

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 23, 26 July 1930, Page 12

MONDAY'S TEST

CANADA'S ELECTIONS

WHAT IS "EMPIRE TRADE"?

"Evening Post," 2Gth July.

Monday will be an important day in Canada, and also in New Zealand. In Canada two parties, both saying "Empire irade," are going to the polls. Until the Canadian elections are over, and until a strong Government again exists, no one v-ill know what cither of them means by "Empire trade." Until the successful party (whichever it be) has begun implementing "Empire trade" by actions— by duties, treaties, etc. —there will be very little to talk about. But as soon as a Government is returned in Canada there should not be much more waiting. The Canadian-New Zealand trade position will call for concrete handling, as present Canadian concessions to New Zealand butter are due to cease in October, when the one cent duty on our butter will go up to four cents—unless general action along the lines of tariff negotiation between the Canadian and New Zealand representatives results in a more favourable butter tariff replacing the four centa impost. Butter is one card,' timber is another. Tariff and Budget events in New Zealand this week reflect a desire of the New Zealand Government to be in a bargaining position. Side by side with the New Zea-land-Canadian trade issue is the New Zea-land-Australian issue. In recent tariff alterations' there has been a sort of Tasman truce to .enable Commonwealth and New Zealand negotiations to proceed. Butter is again a card. Australian dried fruits me another. When the three Pacific Dominions'have got down to tariff tin-tacks, ,tve ■ will begin to know what "Empire frade" means in the Pacific half of the Imperial 'structure.