TRADE TREATY TROUBLE

Evening Star, Issue 20864, 6 August 1931, Page 16

TRADE TREATY TROUBLE

MR COATES EXPRESSES ALARM [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, August 5. Tho trade treaty differences between Now Zealand and Canada are regarded with alarm by Mr Coates, who in his Budget debate references expressed the opinion that the countries in that regard appeared to bo as wide apart as the poles, 44 it seems wo have reached an impasse,” said Mr Coates. 44 1 know tho Prime Minister has taken up an attitude ho thinks is the only one ho can adopt, but 1 wish to impress on him the gravity of the present position.” Within only the last few days a ship from tho United States, enjoying all the advantages such ships must have, had arrived and was taking trade from the company that had been looked upon as part and parcel of New Zealand’s enterprise. New Zealand was expecting interdominion trade, while remaining at arm’s length from the sister dominion concerned. How long could tho present attitude continue to be adopted regarding trade with Canada? Could a Now Zealand Minister not be sent to Canada at once to see if tho differences could be composed r Mr Lysnar; Are not election pledges in Canada tho cause of the trouble? Mr Coates: 44 Why should election pledges stand in the way of New Zealand?” He contended that there was room for trade to the advantage of both dominions. Traders at present did not know where they wore, and orders which previously went to Canada were now being transferred to the United States and Germany, because they could be obtained at a cheaper price. He said : 44 I feel wo arc not meeting the position at tho moment, and that New Zealand is drifting into an mifortunate position as tho result of the dilhculty that lias arisen. I hope that it will be remedied at an early date.”