BETTER UNDERSTANDING

Evening Star, Issue 22351, 29 May 1936, Page 9

BETTER UNDERSTANDING

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND RECIPROCAL TRADE DISCUSSIONS Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright

CANBERRA, May 28. Reciprocal trade with_ New Zealand was discussed at the Agricultural Council to-day. Mr W. Taylor, the New Zealand Trade Commissioner, is preparing a full report of the deliberations for the Dominion Government.

Recalling the efforts for lifting tho New Zealand embargo on Australian, citrus fruits, Mr H. Y. Thorby, the Acting Minister for Commerce, said that Australia’s fruit trade with New Zealand had dropped from £182,904 in. 1931-32 to £61,462, with only a slight increase in the following year. _ The Commonwealth had urged the lifting of the restriction for a short period each year in respect to citrus, cherries,, grapes, and passion fruit, and had guaranteed that no fruit would be exported unless accompanied by a certificate of freedom from fruitfly. Ha added that although the quantities of New Zealand apples imported into Australia since March 25 were not large,, the mere fact of permitting their admission to Australia was an indication of good faith and would no doubt be appreciated by the New Zealand Government. Mr Taylor, interviewed later, said that these conferences were rapidly paving the way for a better understanding among the producers of Australian States, as well as with New Zealand. Discussion on dairying would bo of considerable interest to New; Zealand, where the problems were parallel with Australia. Mr Taylor was the speaker at a luncheon to delegates tendered by the Commonwealth Government. He said that the feeling towards Australia was more friendly in the Dominion than was generally imagined. As a tourist officer ho was amazed at the number of New Zealand tourists who were continually pouring into Australia, the majority being women, who came to Sydney for a good holiday.