TRADE TREATY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 9, 12 January 1932, Page 8

TRADE TREATY

NEW ZEALAND AND

CANADA

STATEMENT BY PRIME

MINISTER

The Prime Minister (the Right Hon. G. AY. Forbes) stated to-day that the agreement which had been reached by the Minister of Customs (the Hon. W. Downie Stewart) with the Minister of Trade and-Commerce of Canada on the subject of a new agreement between New Zealand and Canada would, he understood, be along the same lines as the treaty made between Canada and Australia some months ago.

"Under the Australia - Canada treaty," said Mr. Forbes, "the great bulk of commodities exported from Canada are granted a substantial preference in Australia, and in.return Canada gives Australia British preferential tariff on the bulk of the items imported, with lower^rates than British preferential ones on 28 items of the tariff. Under the treaty Australian ' butter was admitted to Canada at 14s a cwt less than New Zealand butter, but this position should be righted with the treaty. Australian goods, which enter Canada at lower, rates than the British-prefer-ential tariff include fresh and canned meats, eggs, dairy produce, hops, rice, and fruits.

"I have no doubt that the result of tho conference will place the relations between Canada and New Zealand on a better footing than before. The conference has achieved What wo hoped to do when we passed through Ottawa on the way to the. Imperial Conference last year. One of the things we asked was that Canada should go into the question of duty on butter with us, but the Canadian Prime Minister would not agree to this, and put oil tho duties without giving us an opportunity of speaking. "Wo now welcome the fact that there has been an opportunity of discussing the question, and it is pleasing to know that complete agreement has been reached. Whatever has been done will, of course, have to be ratified by Cabinet." Mr. Forbes said he did not think that special legislation would be necessary to give effect to the treaty; the Government could act by Order-in-Council.