TARIFF NEGOTIATIONS

Evening Star, Issue 17927, 24 March 1922, Page 7

TARIFF NEGOTIATIONS

WHO HOLDS TDK WHIP HAND? * Osyas [Per United Association.] WELLINGTON, March 24. A message from Melbourne says : “ Public interest continues to grow here respecting tho tariff negotiations between the Commonwealth authorities and the New Zealand representative (the Hon. Downie Stewart), and the question is exciting interesting speculations in tho lobbies of tho Federal Parliament and commercial circles. Discussing the question under the heading ‘ Who Holds the Whip Band V tho Melbourne ‘ Herald ’ says : ‘ Mr Stewart has made no secret of the fact that the desire of _ the Dominion is to bargain, and this is distinctly palatable to the Commonwealth, which wonts preference to be general on both sides.’ Tho ‘ Horakl ’ continues : ‘ New Zealand is too good a customer for tho Commonwealth to lose, as would be the case if the negotiations broke -down. It will be interesting to see whether the Commonwealth attitude will be modified 'if tho Dominion remains firm in her present demands ’; and the article concludes with the question, ‘Does New Zealand hold the wliip hand V ”