NEGOTIATIONS ABANDONED

Evening Star, Issue 21099, 11 May 1932, Page 4

NEGOTIATIONS ABANDONED

BELGIAN-NEW ZEALAND TRADE TREATY [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, May 10. An announcement that difficulties had arisen in Belgium over the ratification of the Treaty of Commerce which was signed with that country at Wellington in December last, was made in the House of Representatives this afternoon by the Minister of Customs (the Hon. W. Downie Stewart). Mr Stewart said the main reason for entering into the treaty had been the realisation that the Belgian tanners would be likely before long to press for substantial duties on imported primary products. It had become quite obvious that there were limits to the consumptive or receptive capacity of Britain, and that all primary-produc-ing countries looked to England as the possible destination of their goods. The Minister quoted figures to show that Now Zealand sent a greater proportion than the other dominions of her export trade in the chief primary products to the United Kingdom, and that the products of other dominions had a greater hold upon European markets than had New Zealand goods. He said that with the rising wall of tariffs all over the world it would have been of advantage to New Zealand if at least the market of one country outside Britain could have been increased. “As showing how favourable the treaty was for the New Zealand primary producers,” he said, “ the Belgian Government has now advised me that if the treaty in its present form were placed before the Belgian Parliament for ratification it would be rejected owing to strong opposition from the Belgian farmers.” It is explained that when the treaty was signed the Belgian Government was confident that it would be ratified, hut the economic crisis has so altered the position by reducing the price of primary products there that it considers it would be inadvisable to go on with the matter at the present time. “In these circumstances,” said the Minister, “it is clear that nothing is to he gained by submitting the treaty to the New Zealand Parliament this session, more particularly in view of the approaching Ottawa ■ Conference, but 'I hope at a later date that it will he possible to resume the negotiations.”